Zabou, Lead Mural Artist, shares her Skills-Share Mural Story

It was an amazing experience, both as a mentor and as an artist, to create a mural with three other creatives, guide them, and share this journey together. I loved every step of the process: selecting the participants, meeting one another, developing a design, preparing the mural, and of course painting together.

The main takeaway from this project? New friends! When we met for the first time, we discussed local stories and elements that had inspired or left an impression on us: the witch trials, magical creatures, nature and more. We all agreed that magic and imagination would make a great shared theme.

We also voted on a colour palette to ensure consistency across the artworks: purple was the winner! The Skill Share project definitely helped me develop my management skills, particularly when it came to checking in with everyone regularly and making sure they had the support they needed.

Written by Zabou, an internationally renowned mural artist, having completed approximately 270 murals across 25 countries worldwide, spanning from Indonesia to the U.S.A and throughout Europe. Zabou was commissioned to select and mentor three local Emerging Mural Artists (Hayley Wells, Pete Lee and Steve Lawes) on a 4-sided Skills-Share mural along Kings Head Walk, Chelmsford, CM2 6FH.

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.