artist AlecLDN creates reclaimed masterpiece

Croydon Vineyard is an organisation offering free English lessons and practical support with housing, schooling and employment to anyone in need.

The mural, named Changes, was painted by local artist, and paint reuse champion AlecLdn. The artwork was was painted using repurposed paint sourced through the Community RePaint network.

AlecLDN has shared how the butterflies depicted in the mural represent the transformative power of a journey. He says;

“Butterflies travel great distances guided by instinct and hope. Human journeys are much the same, crossing borders, learning new languages, and transforming through courage, resilience, and community. Each wing represents movement, change, and the beauty of beginning again.”

He goes on to share how reusing the paint for his mural adds another layer of meaning to the piece;

“This artwork, created using repurposed paint, materials given a second life rather than being discarded. Just as the paint has been transformed and reused, the piece reflects the journeys of people who reshape their lives in new places. Transformation exists not only in the image of the butterfly but also in the materials themselves. Colours once overlooked become something vibrant, meaningful, and shared.”

If your organisation is looking to brighten a space, support a community project or bring an artistic vision to life sustainably, explore how repurposed paint could help.

To see other of AlecLDN’s reclaimed murals, find him on Instagram here.

Cheltenham Paint Festival uses recycled paint

Cheltenham Paint Festival Street Art, community mural

The Cheltenham Paint Festival is a free art trail, showcasing a wide range of high-quality artwork in various painting styles from national and international artists. This year, 125 artists attended to paint in 60 different locations around Cheltenham, providing a colourful 5-mile walk for locals and visitors.

The festival has been featured in The Times, The Telegraph and has been part of a 2-hour long feature on Sky Arts.

With the global pandemic ongoing, the festival organisers said it was more important than ever for the paint festival to go ahead, to brighten up the local community and bring some colour into people’s lives.

Cheltenham Paint Festival community mural

However, this year, like many festivals around the country, it was scaled back due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With a reduced festival budget, the organisers required low-cost paint.

Artist and Founder of the festival, Andy Davies, contacted Community RePaint to purchase 100 litres of affordable white paint to use at the festival. The central team passed the festival’s request onto Community RePaint Wirral, who was able to provide the festival with the paint at just £1 per litre, meaning it could still go ahead on a reduced budget.

Cheltenham Paint Festival Street Art, Earth, community mural

Community RePaint Wirral is one of the biggest schemes on the Community RePaint Network. In 2019, the scheme redistributed over 104,000-litres of leftover paint to individuals and groups in the community. They were very proud to be supporting the 2020 edition of the Cheltenham Paint Festival.

Andy, the festival founder, told us “The delivery was great, the driver went out of the way to get them across the garden and put them on the drive which was much appreciated. The paint itself was excellent and so useful.”

The local community appreciate the art around the town, providing some light in such dark times. You can view a full gallery of the 2020 artwork on the Official Cheltenham Paint Festival website.

Cheltenham Paint Festival, People Painting  Cheltenham Paint Festival, People Painting

Do you need affordable paint for an upcoming project? Find your nearest scheme here.