At the start of the year, Gemma from Brilliant Bamboo approached me with an exciting yet daunting proposal—a commissioned wall mural. Having never worked on such a large scale before, I hesitated, even feared, the challenge. But with the encouragement of Gemma and Rob Fenton a graphic and mural artist, I took the leap. Brilliant Bamboo is a vibrant, community interest company that produce environmentally positive events and places for the community.

Interestingly, as Esme (who helps at the workshop) reminded me, I had actually written down at the beginning of 2025 that I wanted to explore public art. While this mural wasn’t exactly what I had envisioned, the process of scaling up my brushwork was unexpectedly rewarding.

Those familiar with my ceramic work know that bamboo is a recurring motif—evergreen and resilient, it’s a plant I keep close, even in winter. So even though a large scale mural was unfamiliar to me, I felt comfortable with the subject. I knew from the start that this piece would be hand-painted with brushes, inspired by the bold, expressive strokes of shodo calligraphers. Their precision and energy have always captivated me, and I wanted to echo the elegance of Japanese folding screens (byobu), often adorned with gold leaf.

At first, I worried—was the gold too extravagant? Would the community find it excessive? But then I remembered the rich tradition of gilded pottery in Stoke-on-Trent. A touch of gold, not for export but for locals, felt like a fitting homage.

The mural now stands along the canal, using Keim Mineral Paints—a more expensive but non-toxic, eco-friendly alternative to conventional outdoor paints. (If you’re curious about the paints, there’s an insightful blog post featuring both Rob Fenton’s kintsugi-inspired mural in Stoke town and my bamboo mural by the canal—check it out [here].)

Surprisingly, despite the absence of ceramics’ technical challenges—no kiln firings or glaze tests—I found mural painting intensely demanding. Working outdoors, exposed to the elements, gave me a newfound respect for mural artists.

A huge thank you to Rob Fenton for guiding me through the process, and Gemma for the commission. Thanks also to Stoke-on-Trent council and UK Governemnt for funding the project through the Stoke town High Street Accelerator Project. Also to Canal Rivertrust for their support, who lent us their dingey to transport paints across.

Location:

Bamboo Mural: on the Trent & Mersey canal near Stoke-on-Trent station, What 3 words Location: dice.hulk.craft

Rob Fenton’s Mural: Corner of Liverpool Road and Elenora Street. What 3 words location: fantastic.pops.loved