Flats brightened by portraits celebrating community living

PEOPLE who have lived in and worked around Sheffield's controversial Park Hill flats are the subject of a series of giant paintings that were commissioned to brighten up the blocks which are awaiting re-development.
By The Newsroom
Published 22nd Dec 2010, 22:03 BST
Updated 22nd Dec 2010, 22:03 BST

Artist Gary Hindley has painted 89 separate panels which together make up the faces of seven people closely connected with the Grade II listed housing complex, which is currently undergoing a multi-million pound facelift.

Two of those who were painted, former caretaker Grenville Squires and Jean Jones OBE, the former headteacher of the estate's Grace Owen nursery school, visited the flats earlier this week to examine their likenesses.

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The project was funded by the Government's housing market renewal programme.

Mr Hindley said: "These panels are all about celebrating the community living in Park Hill, past, present and future. I have tried to incorporate pictures of all generations, from some familiar faces going back to the 1960s to the next generation with representations of children.

"I have also been working with tenants groups and the local youth club raising awareness of this work. People have been really supportive and happy to see the site brightened up. It has been a privilege to meet so many fantastic local community members."

Related topics:PeopleSheffieldPark HillGovernment