Around 40 young people collaborated to create the concept behind the mural with help from the London School of Muralism

The London School of Muralism (LSoM) has unveiled an exciting new mural in the heart of Edmonton Green — showcasing the collaborative efforts of local youth and students of the school.

Led by artist tutor Patricio Forrester, Eddy’s Pop Up Book “breathes life into the streets” with its “vibrant colours and engaging storytelling”. The mural is located in the North Square Car Park at Edmonton Green Shopping Centre.

Through a series of workshops, young participants from the Edmonton Green community shared their ideas and aspirations for the mural. From creating a child-friendly atmosphere to addressing community concerns such as knife crime, the mural reflects the “collective spirit and diverse voices of the neighbourhood”.

Eddy’s Pop Up Book also “serves as a symbol of unity and creativity, demonstrating the positive impact of art in bringing communities together”. The LSoM team joined forces with two local charities, Northside Youth and Community Connections (NYCC) and Exodus Youth Worx UK, both dedicated to empowering young individuals in Edmonton.

Inspiration struck from an unexpected source — a ten-year-old boy’s suggestion of a pop-up book. This concept was then transformed into a 3D paper model, serving as the blueprint for the mural. It portrays Edmonton Green Shopping Centre as an open book with untold stories and “boundless potential”. From the bustling market to the youth centre, each element “reflects the vibrant tapestry of Edmonton’s past, present, and future”.

At the heart of the mural lies a powerful message of unity: “We rise as one.”

The mural spans an impressive 25 meters in length and reaches a height of ten meters. Around 40 young residents of Edmonton actively participated in the brainstorming and idea development process for the mural, while four young people worked with LSoM to directly paint on the wall.

Edmonton Green Shopping Centre contributed £2,000 towards covering the project costs.

Tara Hanna, for Exodus Youth Worx UK, said: “This project in collaboration with the London School of Muralism and NYCC has enabled our young people to see the end-to-end process of muralism. From the initial ideas and drawings, presenting back to the team, to creating a 3D pop-up version and then participating in painting the mural. It will be a legacy piece for young people to feel proud of, especially those who participated at any point in the process.”

Adria Bennett from NYCC said: “This was an amazing collab amongst an amazing set of young people who really put thought into to entire process and embraced one another showing that true community spirit amongst our next generation does still exist, Northside Youth and Community Connections are committed to improving Edmonton and its continual growth whilst supporting our young people to take an active role in improving our spaces.”

Patricio Forrester from LSoM added: “This mural was a real challenge, probably the toughest one our school has faced yet, mainly because of the size of the wall. But the creative process with young people was fascinating. Ideas were bouncing around, getting better every step of the way. Providing young people with the opportunity to express themselves on such a grand canvas in a public space is truly rewarding. It’s wonderful to witness their voices making a positive impact that resonates with everyone who sees it.“

Edmonton Youth Heroes is sponsored by Edminitons, the big club for little shoppers. Dispatch readers are welcome to nominate their own ‘Edmonton Youth Hero’ – an inspirational young person from Edmonton (16 or under) who has made a valuable contribution to their local community. Simply email your nomination to [email protected]

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