The colourful neighbourhood in Greater Manchester where you can feel the community spirit

Withington Walls, a grassroots street art initiative is breathing new life into Withington, a once-overlooked suburb of Manchester.

Through vibrant murals and captivating street art, the project has become a great example of the transformative power of public art, creating a sense of civic pride among local residents and sparking a community-led revival.

Withington Walls

“People often think we’re a huge organisation with loads of funding, or that we’re a council project,” said Ed Wellard, founder of Withington Walls, who is a civil engineer by day.

“But the truth is, a handful of volunteers, all passionate about making Withington a better place.”

The beginnings of Withington Walls

The idea for Withington Walls took root in late 2019.

The team began painting walls, shutters and phone cabinets during the coronavirus lockdown in the hope of brightening up the town and changing the way people saw it.

There are now more than 100 pieces of public art linked to the area through either the painter or the artwork’s subject. They were unable to keep going without the communities help, however, and after reaching out online fo donations, they were shocked with the response.

The response was overwhelming, with local residents raising £5,000. “It was amazing to see friends’ kids donating their pocket money,” Ed said. “People wanted to bring some brightness back to Withington.”

However, Ed and his team found an unexpected silver lining in the summer of 2020.

“The high street looked miserable then—all the shop shutters were down, and everything seemed grimy and tagged. It was an opportunity for us to transform those spaces,” he explained.

Bringing art to Withington’s High Street

The murals began with shop shutters, but soon extended to larger walls, street cabinets, and other prominent spaces around Withington.

One of the early pieces was a mural of Marcus Rashford.

“The Rashford mural wasn’t about making a statement—it was just us wanting to celebrate a local role model,” Ed explained.

But the artwork quickly became a symbol of community pride, attracting widespread attention and helping put Withington Walls on the map.

Ed emphasises that the goal of Withington Walls is not just to beautify but also to create a deeper sense of connection within the community.

“There’s something powerful about art in public spaces. It’s accessible to everyone—it’s not hidden away in a gallery. It’s there in people’s daily lives, something they can experience on their way to work, to the shops, or to school.”

Cultivating civic pride through art

The project has achieved more than just an aesthetic transformation; it’s also helped redefine the public’s perception of Withington.

“Withington doesn’t have the reputation of some of its neighbouring areas. It’s not as well-heeled or celebrated. But we’ve shown that there’s a vibrant, diverse, and cohesive community here,” he said.

Through Withington Walls, residents have a renewed sense of pride in their neighbourhood.

For Ed, street art is a catalyst for change and community-building.

“Art is often marginalised, especially in times of economic difficulty. But having art as a part of our everyday lives can be really inspiring.”

The project also celebrates Withington’s unique history and local heroes. Murals honour figures such as Tony Wilson of Factory Records fame and Margaret Ashton, the UK’s first female city councillor, to name a couple.

“Each piece tells a story and connects us to our past,” Ed shared.

“By honouring these figures, we’re not just beautifying walls; we’re also preserving local heritage.”

The challenges of running a grassroots art initiative

While the project’s success has been a source of pride for Withington, running a community-driven art initiative hasn’t been without its challenges.

The vast majority of the work is done on a volunteer basis, and funding is always a concern.

“We don’t charge local businesses for the murals, so we rely on donations, grants, and sponsorships. It’s not easy finding the money, but the community has been incredibly supportive,” Ed added.

For the community’s larger events, like the Paint Jam in the summer, dozens of volunteers contribute their time. But Ed often finds himself doing much of the groundwork solo.

“I’m out there at six in the morning scrubbing shutters and prepping walls so they’re ready for the artists. It’s hard work, but seeing the end result makes it all worth it,” he admitted.

Support for Withington Walls also comes in the form of small donations.

“We have a ‘Buy a Can’ page where people can donate to cover the cost of spray paint,” Ed explained.

“People can contribute a fiver to buy a single can or more if they want to help out. It’s amazing to see how even the smallest donations add up.”

You can help out Withington Walls by ‘buying a can’ of spray paint to help support the amazing work they are doing in the area.

Click here to find out more.

Art as a catalyst for investment and renewal

As Withington Walls has grown, it has also attracted investment and attention from outside the area.

Ed notes that local businesses have become more aware of Withington thanks to the project’s influence.

“I know of businesses that decided to move to Withington after seeing what we were doing. They saw a community that’s vibrant and engaged, and they wanted to be part of that.”

The project has also caught the attention of urban planners and city officials across Europe.

“It’s a bit surreal to think that what we’re doing here in a small corner of Manchester is getting attention from places like Amsterdam and Athens,” Ed remarked.

“Street art is a powerful tool for change, and it’s great to see other cities taking note of what we’re doing.”

Looking to the future

With over a hundred artworks completed, Withington Walls shows no signs of slowing down.

The Withington Walls team has big plans for the future, including more murals, new events, and, of course, the continuation of the annual Paint Jam.

“There are still so many walls I’d love to paint and more local heroes to celebrate,” Ed said.

“The only limit is funding.”

To keep Withington Walls going, Ed is exploring new funding sources and partnerships.

“We’re moving away from crowdfunding and leaning more on grants and sponsorships. If we can find the support, we’ll be able to keep making Withington a more beautiful place for everyone.”

In a time when many high streets are struggling, Withington Walls stands as an example of how public art can transform a community.

Ed believes that the impact of street art goes beyond aesthetics. “It makes people proud of where they’re from. It shows them that their neighbourhood is worth caring about. And in the end, that’s what it’s all about—civic pride.”

For Ed, Withington Walls is more than a passion project; it’s a mission to make art accessible, inspire the next generation, and strengthen the bonds within his community.

“If our work can bring a little colour, joy, and pride to people’s lives, then we’re doing something right. That’s the power of art—it can change the way we see our world and ourselves.”

With that, Ed hopes to keep the murals coming, each one a brushstroke in a larger portrait of Withington’s unique spirit and community pride.

How you can help out Withington Walls

If you’d like to donate to them directly, please email Withington Walls by clicking mailto:[email protected]