A street style mural depicting Barking’s rich history will adorn the side wall of McDonald’s Restaurant in East Street this summer.
The initial design by Jake Attewell was voted the Winner of the Heritage Wall Commission competition, which was funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of the Barking Town Heritage Project and ran by Be First on behalf of Barking and Dagenham Council.
The winning piece, entitled ‘Barking’s Lost Heritage’, was voted the winner out of 14 submissions by a short-listing panel, including Council and Be First staff, Heritage Volunteers, and members of the local community.
Councillor Cameron Geddes, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Social Housing said: “This is an inspirational modern take on Barking’s rich and diverse past and I am convinced it will be a real winner with the public.”
David Harley, Head of regeneration at Be First said: “Barking is fast becoming known as one of London’s arts and creative hotspot and this outstanding piece I am sure will become a real landmark – a modern take on the town’s history!
Jake, who graduated from Arts University College Bournemouth and has been a professional mural artist for five years has already had some of his work displayed in east London with one of his most recent mural commissions – his Clara Grant mural in Bow, for the London Mural Festival, last autumn.
Jake said: “I am extremely honoured to have been chosen to complete The Barking Heritage Mural Project. I’m very much looking forward to getting started as it is such a great location and I believe I can create something that Barking residents can be really proud of.”
Residents will get the opportunity to choose the final design to be painted on the Heritage Wall, in Short Blue Place, Barking, by taking part in a vote organised by the artist and there will be opportunities for local people and students to engage with him throughout the process.
And Tamara Fround (a mosaic artist) has also been awarded a commission to create a mosaic heritage trail in the paving, linking historic Barking (Town Quay, Abbey Green & Curfew Tower) with the Heritage Wall mural in Short Blue Place.
