How did the design develop?

To develop the design, Peachzz engaged with children, young people and residents to gather local people’s ideas and local inspiration to feed into the final design for the artwork. Peachzz engaged with 60 pupils from Carlton Lane primary school to participate in collage activities about what South Elmsall means to them alongside a drop in session at the library and inviting the local writing and poetry group to produce a poem to inspire the work.

Peachzz also engaged 20 cadets from 23 (South Elmsall) Squadron Air Training Corps exploring what they loved about South Elmsall. Peachzz then looked at connecting points and themes between the feedback received from different generations to inform her design development. In total Megan engaged approximately 100 people.

What is the final artwork all about?

In this mural, a young deer rests gently amongst bright flowers representing the young people of South Elmsall. Behind, you can see outlines of coal mining structures with nature emerging from coal at the base, honouring the town’s deep-rooted mining history.

The mural reflects South Elmsall’s journey. From its coal mining past, toward a future blossoming with possibility.

The mural has a deep personal connection for the artist:

“I painted it in South Elmsall, a mining town not too different from Alfreton, a place where my grandad lived and where I spent much of my childhood. He was a miner, and my great-grandad lost his life in the mines. Those memories came flooding back as I painted, and I found myself feeling emotional.

The town has changed over the years, and painting Ashfall gave me a way to reflect on that, to reconnect with the past while looking toward the future. The deer in the painting represents the youth and the spring taking over, but still holding space for what came before.

I painted a moon in the deer’s eye for my grandad. ‘To the moon and back.” 

Peachzz quote from Inspiring City article 17.8.25.

Peachzz supported in the mural production by Creative Associate, Makena Brooks.

What is the legacy of this project?

Peachzz described the work as

“This piece is about holding space for both memory and growth. The young roe deer, nestled among blooms, represents the youth of South Elmsall, full of life and possibility. 

Behind it, the misty outlines of the old coal mining structures still linger, a quiet nod to the town’s deep-rooted history. For me, the contrast between these elements creates a moment suspended in time, where past and future sit side by side. 

It’s a tribute to South Elmsall’s journey, from the heritage of its industrial past to blooming into its present and future.”

During the installation period it was clear to see how the local community was connecting with the artwork with lots of residents stopping to say how amazing it was; a passerby said how “it will brighten their day everyday”; another commented that they felt “that it was honoring the mining heritage and inspiring the future” and one lady who bought the artist a bottle of wine. During the installation one 81 year old sat for 3 hours watching with his brother documenting the entire install and creating an album on the local archive group on Facebook.

There was an overwhelming positive response online with hundreds of ‘likes’ and comments, for example 

‘What a beautiful piece of art, bringing so much joy to the town!’

‘Wow! Finally something really beautiful in this sad town.’

‘Can I just say that whoever commissioned the mural in the village…Well played!!! It looks great and the artist is doing a fantastic job!’

This mural has inspired residents and young people, and we hope acts as a point of local pride and symbol of hope for the future with evidence of this via online comments –  

‘I wanted to share this, the other day I was watching a young man outside one stop he was picking as much of the grass he could inbetween the bricks then putting it in to the bin he said he wanted to keep it looking good, bless him’

‘I think it’s stunning, maybe could paint the whole town in technicolour and maybe encourage new shops and shoppers in the town!’

Peachzz was supported by Creative Associate, Makena Brooks to install the work.

This mural project is part of the legacy of Our Year – Wakefield District 2024. ‘Crossings and Gateways’ is an exciting public art programme across communities in the district kindly supported with investment from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Arts Council England.

Credits: Completed artwork images courtesy of Wakefield Council; work in progress images courtesy of Brian Owen