Help Shape a New Gateway to Shrewsbury: Public Invited to Contribute to Railway Tunnel Mural Ideas

The Shrewsbury Gateway Tunnel

A bold new community art project is set to transform the railway tunnel by Shrewsbury Train Station into a vibrant mural celebrating the stories, people, and places that make Shropshire special – and local residents are being invited to help shape it. 

The project, a collaboration between Shropshire-based charity Big Art Regeneration & Transformation (The BART), the Shrewsbury Big Town Plan Partnership (Shropshire Council, Shrewsbury BID, and Shrewsbury Town Council), Shrewsbury College and mural artist Russ Meehan, will see the dirty and uninviting tunnel area brought back to life with better lighting, a deep clean (including pigeon-proofing), and a large-scale public mural designed to inspire pride and improve safety by deterring anti-social behaviour. 

Following a mural design competition with Shrewsbury College , the project has selected a team of talented young artists and begun sketching out a design that features some of the town and county’s most well-known heritage highlights. 

“Initial concept designs for the mural formed one module for first year Art & Design Students at the College,” said BART Chair, Jane Manning. “Providing the opportunity to experience working with a professional mural artist on a live project was an important part of this project. However the professionalism shown by the students and quality of work delivered, completely exceeded our expectations,” she added. 

Helen Morgan, Curriculum Director - Art and Design at Shrewsbury Colleges Group added: “We were delighted to be approached by The BART and Shrewsbury Big Town Plan to offer this exciting opportunity to work on a professional site-specific project. The project offered an invaluable professional experience, offering insight into the process of creating public art. Our students have shown remarkable creativity, teamwork and professionalism throughout the collaboration, leading them to produce work of an excellent standard. We are extremely proud of their achievements”   

Left to right: Stephanie Mansell-Jones – Shrewsbury BID, Ruby Jammaz, Finn Gardiner, Eliza Towrs, Jasmine Vaughan, Molly Speake, Simon Wilks – Shrewsbury College, Claire Evans – Shropshire Council, Jane Manning – The BART 

Now, the public is being asked to help complete the picture by submitting ideas for lesser-known stories of Shrewsbury and Shropshire, including underrepresented voices, hidden histories, and cultural traditions that deserve to be celebrated. Organisers are particularly interested in: 

• Unsung heroes and local changemakers 

• Women, LGBTQ+ figures, and ethnic minority voices in Shropshire’s history 

• Folktales, myths, and legends 

• Special places and landscapes with local meaning 

• Future-facing ideas about what Shrewsbury and Shropshire could be known for 

In addition, the mural will include a digital layer - a 'Shropshire Soundtrack' accessible by QR code - and residents are encouraged to suggest music, songs, or soundscapes with a local connection. 

To take part, residents can complete a short online survey and submit their suggestions. The five most unique or surprising ideas will each receive a £20 voucher to spend at a local Shropshire business of their choice. 

Cllr. Rob Wilson, Leader of Shrewsbury Town Council, said: 

“This is an exciting initiative that combines public art, placemaking and community involvement. Projects like this help improve how people feel about their town, while also making important infrastructure like the railway tunnel safer and more inviting for everyone.” 

Stephanie Mansell-Jones of Shrewsbury BID, said: 

“The mural will create a positive first impression for visitors arriving by train and give residents a powerful reminder of the rich stories and voices that make Shrewsbury so special. Not to mention tackling the long-standing pigeon problem which will significantly improve one of the main entry ways to the town.”  

Cllr Alex Wagner, Deputy Leader of Shropshire Council, said:   

“One of the best things about Shropshire is our incredible community spirit. This project is a fantastic opportunity to improve a key transport link and put local people and their voices at the heart of it, from both here in Shrewsbury and all over the county.” ​​

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