Cotswold Homes

NORTH ROAD PRIMARY SCHOOL

Artist Residency I Public Realm Commission

North Road Community Primary School, located in Engine Common near Yate, South Gloucestershire, enlisted visual artist and designer Molly Hawkins to create a new, permanent outdoor artwork for the school building and playground. This project was funded by Cotswold Homes as part of the planning obligations for their nearby housing development, The Grove. The initiative was conceived to create a real community impact and foster local engagement.

Molly was appointed in April 2022 and developed her designs over the spring and summer through a series of school visits and interactive workshops for all of the school's pupils aged 4-11. During her initial 'artist residency' phase, Molly conducted badge making, printmaking, and collage workshops, and used artwork produced by the children as the foundation for her final design proposal.

Molly drew inspiration from the school's branding and uniform colors (purple and green), the historic architecture of the school building, elements of the natural world surrounding the school, and the school's passion for sports, singing, and dancing. Her mural design is a celebration of the unique, joyful, nurturing, and supportive atmosphere at North Road Primary School. It captures the school's energy and reflects its core values: Respect, Positivity, Perseverance, Ambition, Pride, and Responsibility.

Molly and her team painted the wall mural on-site during the 2022 summer holidays, while Uni-Play installed the accompanying floor-based design element using thermoplastics in September 2022. Together, these vibrant and meaningful artworks have transformed the school environment, enriching the daily lives of students, staff, and the local community while reinforcing the importance of creativity, connection, and shared values.