A local Sheffield artist has completed a large-scale mural on the side of a historic listed building, hoping the artwork will encourage meaningful conversations within the community. The bold design, painted on the former Cole Brothers and John Lewis building, displays the inspirational message: "Walk in your purpose and trust in the process."
The artist behind the project, known as Kid Acne, spent two weeks creating the mural under challenging weather conditions. The first week brought heavy rainfall as Storm Claudia approached the area, while the second week featured near-freezing temperatures that made painting extremely difficult. "Obviously, I'm writing 'trust in the process' massive on the side of this wall so I've had to keep reminding myself that when there have been moments of despair or downpours," Kid Acne explained. "When it gets too cold or too wet, you kind of just have to down tools, but that has also been part of the process."
The mural is located on the building's parking garage ramp on Cross Burgess Street and was made possible through funding from the volunteer organization Friends of Sheffield City Centre. Additional support came from grants provided by city ward councilors and the development company Urban Splash. Kid Acne, whose real name is Ed, has previously collaborated with Urban Splash on other projects and is well-established in Sheffield's art scene.
The artist deliberately chose a positive message for the mural, believing it would create opportunities for community engagement. "Painting something so big in a public space means people do feel able to interact with you," he said. "I tend to try and make as much time for that as possible and I've been having some really interesting conversations with people. People are asking questions about the process." Kid Acne also noted that several murals are currently appearing throughout Sheffield, suggesting there is growing public interest in street art. "I think there's an appetite for it. It is part of the landscape," he observed.
Bridget Ingle, a member of the Friends of Sheffield City Centre group, revealed that obtaining permission for the artwork on the Grade II listed building required significant effort and coordination. "It's been a joy to create something that breathes new life into our city's streetscape," she explained. Ingle also helped apply finishing touches to the mural and praised Kid Acne's expertise, stating: "Kid Acne is an established local artist who truly understands and respects the culture of this art form."
The building where the mural now stands was originally opened in 1963 and has significant historical importance to Sheffield. Urban Splash is currently planning to redevelop the structure into a mixed-use facility that will include workspaces, cafes, retail stores, leisure facilities, and event venues. Sian Stanhope, Urban Splash's development manager, emphasized that the mural fits perfectly with the building's artistic heritage, noting that the original architects had "a long-standing connection to the arts." This connection between past and present demonstrates how the new artwork honors the building's cultural legacy while looking toward its future transformation.
