Gavin Ives of Bubu’s Café, shares his Great Baddow Mural Story

Being asked to take part in the creative process behind the new mural in Great Baddow was, at first, a complete unknown for me. The project began with what felt like very formal meetings — sitting around tables looking through artists’ portfolios and discussing who might be the right fit for both the location and the local community. We wanted someone whose work felt bold, fresh, and visually exciting, but who could also connect with the people who actually live here. Meetings have never really been my forte, and at the beginning I knew very few of the people in the room, so stepping into that process definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone.

Things became much more enjoyable once we moved into the community engagement side of the project. I was tasked with helping host round table discussions with the artist, Miguel, to gather ideas and feedback from local residents. Of course, anyone who has ever organised a local gathering knows that getting people to actually attend can sometimes feel like herding cats — but somehow we managed it! We brought together a brilliant mix of people, young and old alike, who were chatty, thoughtful, and genuinely excited about the mural project. One of the nicest parts was watching Miguel stand in front of the group and ask people about their lives, interests, memories, and experiences of Great Baddow, and seeing how eager everyone was to contribute.

What really struck me was the contrast — and overlap — between the generations. Many of the older residents wanted the mural to carry a sense of history and remembrance, with references to local landmarks, wildlife, landscapes, and stories from the past. Meanwhile, younger people, especially those who hadn’t lived in the area for as long, were keen to reflect the diversity, energy, sport, and future of the community. Those early discussions gave Miguel such a rich bank of ideas to work from, and the feedback sparked my own curiosity too. I found myself wandering around taking photographs of local flora, fauna, and landmarks, as well as digging into bits of local history to send over for reference. That was the moment where the whole thing stopped feeling like a formal committee process and started to feel like a genuinely creative collaboration that I was lucky to play a small part in.

Even preparing the wall itself became part of the community effort. Before Miguel arrived, a group of us scrubbed, cleaned, and whitewashed what had been a rather shabby wall into a proper blank canvas ready for something special. Miguel shared draft concepts of the mural with us beforehand, but honestly, no image on a computer screen could prepare us for seeing the finished work in person for the first time. The scale, the vibrancy of the colours, and the bold mix of patterns, silhouettes, and realistic imagery make it an absolute feast for the eyes. What makes it even more meaningful is recognising the individual elements and remembering the conversations and stories that inspired them during those planning meetings.

Overall, it has been one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve been part of. It pushed me well outside my comfort zone, taught me a huge amount about Great Baddow through the stories of local residents and my own research, and brought together people who may otherwise never have sat around the same table. I have made so many new friends through the experience and I am sure we will collaborate on more projects in the future. Most of all, it has given the people of Great Baddow a bold, joyful artwork that will resonate with people for many years to come, and most especially every one that took part in the project.

Gavin kindly invited commissioned artist, Miguel H Cuar to stay in his home during the week of the mural painting, and shares…

Although inviting a stranger to stay in your home is always something of an unknown, hosting Miguel during his painting of the Great Wall of Baddow turned out to be an absolutely wonderful experience for all of us. From the moment he arrived, he was a thoughtful, tidy, and considerate guest who happily tucked into our plant-based meals and quickly won the affection of both our cats, who seemed to adopt him into their pride almost immediately. Whether he was relaxing in the garden or working in his room, one or both cats would inevitably seek him out for company.

What made the week especially memorable was the genuine cultural exchange that developed between us. Not once did we turn on the television in the evenings, as we instead spent hours deep in conversation about our family histories, hometowns, and artistic journeys. We put the world to rights on many an occasion. It was a rare pleasure to connect so meaningfully with someone we might otherwise never have met.

Miguel also kept us updated on the progress of the mural each day, sharing stories from local residents who had stopped to chat to him about their own histories and knowledge about Great Baddow. For our part, we did our best to offer local context and bits of history connected to the motifs in the artwork.

Overall, the experience was enriching, educational, and deeply welcoming from our perspective — and my partner Beccy is especially delighted that Miguel has now added her often used phrase “cream crackered” to his vernacular.


Written by Gavin Ives, a dedicated member of Bubu's Community Hub who was instrumental in the success of the Great Baddow mural in collaboration with local community members, commissioned artist Miguel H. Cuar and Great Baddow Parish Council.

This mural is one of four, co-created with communities across the district of Chelmsford in 2026, as part of Concrete Canvas: Reimagined.

Concrete Canvas: Reimagined is part of the Young Cultural Changemakers Programme, produced by Culture Chelmsford and SPARK!, in collaboration with Chelmsford For You & Concrete Canvas, funded by Arts Council England, Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford City Council, Chelmsford College, Chelmsford For You, Great Baddow Parish Council, Mister Gees Foundation and sponsored by Alfreshco, Community RePaint, Thirst Drinks Syndicate and Wickes.