International artist designs new Castleford mural

A giant mural has been painted on the side of a former bingo hall in Castleford.

The artwork in Welbeck Street is part of a project to transform key routes between the train station and the town centre.

It has been created by Jay Gilleard, an internationally renowned street artist from Yorkshire, who has worked across the region as well as in Los Angeles, Mexico and the Mojave Desert.

Michael Graham, Wakefield Council's cabinet member for regeneration and economic growth, said he hoped the work would "quickly become a much-loved feature of the town".

The piece, which pays homage to the history of Castleford, will be visible when using the Welbeck Street route to Carlton Street in the town.

At the top of the mural is a Yorkshire rose, intertwined with blue and brown to represent the River Aire alongside images of tugboats and a grindstone wheel.

Other imagery included in the piece draws inspiration from the town's past, including a miner's lamp and Castleford's crest.

Jay Gilleard, also known as CBLOXX, is one of the professional artists commissioned by the council in partnership with Beam Arts UK to create artwork across the town.

Graham said: "This new mural will look great. It's been created using ideas from people in Castleford. So I'm sure it will quickly become a much-loved feature of the town.

"It will build on work we've already done to make the area around the station safer and more pedestrian friendly.

"Including the recent resurfacing work, installing more CCTV cameras, and adding new and better street lighting."

The mural has been funded through Network Rail's Transpennine Route Upgrade Programme.

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