We are pleased to announce that mural artist Jayde Marie Bell has been awarded two new commissions following her exceptional work on painting shop shutters in Goldthorpe.

Firstly, she will be painting six new murals on the shutters of businesses on Goldthorpe’s high street, funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The second project is a mural for the underpass connecting Goldthorpe to Thurnscoe’s Phoenix Park, which is being designed with involvement from young people from the Dearne.

This project is supported by funding from the Goldthorpe Town Deal, a £23.1 million investment from the UK Government’s Towns Fund, which is regenerating and reinvigorating Goldthorpe and the Dearne.

Both projects align with our ambition that everyone in Barnsley is able to grow and develop their skills and have the opportunity to enjoy memorable cultural experiences.

Cllr Robin Franklin, Cabinet Spokesperson for Regeneration and Culture, said: “I’m pleased we are able to support both of these art projects, which will bring fresh colour and creativity to the Dearne.

“We are passionate about supporting our artists and enabling them to engage with our communities to create inspiring artwork and encourage to celebrate what they love about where they live.

“I look forward to seeing the results of Jayde’s hard work.”

Jayde, also known as Eye Violet, was commissioned earlier this year to design and paint murals for five shop shutters in Goldthorpe.

The project was funded by the Snap Tin Community Hub and supported by the team which organises Dearne Community Arts Festival as part of their promotion of this year’s festival in September.

Festival secretary Julie Turner said the response to the completed artworks had been phenomenal, with other shops wanting to be involved. Each of the six new designs will be personalised to the shop owner’s requests.

Funding from the Goldthorpe Town Deal will see Jayde brightening up the walls of the Phoenix Park underpass, which has recently been reopened after being badly damaged by fire in 2023.

This will encourage the use of the underpass as an active travel route, connecting Goldthorpe to the neighbouring village of Thurnscoe, as well as an entryway into the beautiful landscape of Phoenix Park.

Workshops with young people have already begun to engage them in the design process, with phoenix feathers having been painted to form part of the final concept.

Artist Jayde Marie Bell said: “My experience in the Dearne community has been truly magical. The genuine enthusiasm and curiosity of the people, especially the young ones, really brighten my days. 

“I feel joy and gratitude in knowing I get to do what I love and also occasionally make people smile and feel uplifted by colour.

“The shop shutter paintings have become creative doorways that people gather around, steel eyelids blinking open and closed at different times throughout the week. 

“Projects by Eye Violet and Dearne Community Arts Festival have seen familiar faces reappearing across different venues and settings.

“I am really excited to see how this collective energy builds up to create a large painting at the Phoenix Park underpass.”

Julie Turner, secretary of Dearne Community Arts Festival, said: “The shop shutters and mural are a continuation of our vision to champion creativity and celebrate community.

“We want to show people the difference that can be made when street art transforms a place.

“We believe that this artwork will tell a story of hope which will encourage people to love where they live and will give them reasons to do just that.”

Towns Fund investment in Goldthorpe and the Dearne has already delivered major projects including the development of the Horse and Groom Square and the refurbishment and transformation of the Dearne Playhouse into a modern, accessible cultural hub.

It has also supported the Dearne Community Story Trail, a self-guided tour of photo scene boards celebrating the best of the Dearne’s heritage and community.

Find out more about how Towns Fund investment is transforming Goldthorpe at barnsley.gov.uk/Goldthorpe.

Caption: Dearne Community Arts Festival secretary Julie Turner (left) and artist Jayde Marie Bell in Goldthorpe's high street.

Note to editors: High-resolution images are available on request.