Towards the end of 2022, Alison Ollerhead, Director of Hull-based organisation, Arting UK, linked up with a local charity, Cosmo Community CIC, to design an art project for the local community, using leftover paint from Community RePaint Hull & Humber.
Arting UK, works to bring the joy of art to as many people as possible, through educational, therapeutic and enjoyable art sessions, suitable for all ages and abilities.
For the project, Arting UK and Cosmo Community CIC planned a series of six sessions in which participants would come together and learn and develop their creative skills. This included designing and painting a mural on the side of a shipping container, situated on an allotment in Hull City Centre.
The project was planned to give the participants access to fresh air, social interaction, nature and excess fresh produce, as well as to develop their art skills and support the participants with signposting and access to other services.
A range of participants attended the sessions, most of whom were Eastern European refugees, with a majority from Ukraine. The group ranged in age and artistic ability but worked together to draw and paint colourful fruit, vegetables and flowers as part of the mural. Transforming a once dull shipping container into a gorgeous, nature themed mural that blended in beautifully with the surrounding allotments.
For the project Arting UK used metal paint and exterior gloss paint, in a range of colours, picked up from Community RePaint Hull & Humber.
Community RePaint Hull & Humber, run by Groundwork Hull, is part of the Community RePaint Network, a UK-wide paint reuse network sponsored by Dulux.
The scheme collects leftover paint, passed on for reuse by local retailers, businesses and traders. This paint is sorted, processed and displayed at the scheme, available for local individuals, families and community groups/organisations to purchase from £2 per litre. Read more about Community RePaint Hull & Humber in their Meet the Scheme interview here.
When asked about their experience purchasing paint from Community RePaint Hull & Humber, Alison let us know:
“The team at Community RePaint Hull & Humber were very helpful, they assisted us with advice and paint choices. We managed to paint the containers for a good price which meant that we only had to pass the low cost onto the charity.”
You can find out more about the work of Arting UK on their website, Instagram page, Facebook page and/or Twitter page here.
Community RePaint has over 65 schemes across the country, providing paint starting from £2 a litre. If you need paint for your home, community project, or a mural like this one, find your nearest scheme here.
