A community-based initiative hopes to revitalise a public underpass and the platform areas at Mansfield Railway Station.

A permanent art piece created by street artists Peachzz and Kunstity with the help of schoolchildren is to be installed in June.

The project was launched after the condition of the underpass and platforms were identified as a barrier to people accessing the station and nearby areas of the town.

Teaming up as Lick of Paint, artists Megan Russell (Peachzz) and Alastair Flindall (Kunstity) are working with Year 5 students at Sutton Road Primary School, Mansfield, to come up with a design, inspired by the local area.

The project is being funded by Community Rail Network, East Midlands Rail, Cross Country Trains, Nottinghamshire County Council, Mansfield District Council, and Robin Hood Line Community Rail Partnership. They are working in partnership with First Art, Network Rail, the school, and Mansfield Town Football Club to deliver the project.

The partnership was keen that young people were involved to ensure the community shapes, takes ownership, and safeguards the endurance of the artworks.

The schoolchildren have been involved from the start, helping to select the artists from shortlisted candidates.
Peachzz and Kunstity are running workshops with the pupils to formulate ideas before developing the final piece. The duo will then create the artwork in situ on the walls of the underpass.

The artwork will also be replicated on 34 Perspex panels that sit on the station platforms, adding colour to the station itself.
Peachzz and Kunstity, who both champion the wider benefits of projects like this, said: “We’re passionate about encouraging children to create and experiment freely with art. And, by meeting and working with artists, it’s a chance to show young people what’s possible; that they too can follow a path in the arts if they want to.

“It’s so important to bring art into communities where they don’t get the exposure in the same way as big cities, and to introduce children to different mediums and creativity.

“It is proven throughout the world that a lick of paint can transform a space and uplift social attitudes.”

The final piece will bring together ideas and illustrations from the school children, married with Peachzz and Kunstity’s guidance and bold style.

The final artwork is due to be officially unveiled on 9th June. An exhibition of the pupils’ work for the project, together with recent works by the artists, will be on show at the same time in the First Art shop in the Four Seasons Shopping Centre, Mansfield.