Walking around London you’ll see numerous tributes to our incredible frontline staff. These come in the form of signs made by children to famous buildings lit up blue.
One particularly impressive ‘thank you’ can be seen on the side of a building in Walthamstow.
It’s a huge mural showing the NHS personified. Proudly draped in the flag of free healthcare as if some kind of caped superhero. It really is spectacular.
Who designed and painted it?
The artwork was designed by Carl Cozier aka Holy Moly UK. And painted by talented street artists from Wood Street Walls.
Wood Street Walls founder Mark Clack said. “What this mural portrays is healthcare workers, but also many other people working out on the frontline who have previously been forgotten about.”
“This includes carers, paid or unpaid, shop workers and bus drivers – the people who haven’t seen this period as time off.
“They’ve been working around the clock to provide important provisions for us all.”
Where did the idea come from?
The idea for the NHS mural came about after a design by Holy Moly UK was selected for a global campaign. It was projected on digital signs around the world by non-profit Amplifier. A movement committed to amplifying grassroots movements. To build symbols, language, and distribution strategies that can change narratives.
His design was also selected by Adobe’s #HonourHeroes campaign. They collaborated with many artists in the UK and US to highlight the amazing work done by key workers.
Mark said: “We wanted to have something a bit more permanent instead of what is sort of an advertising campaign.
“Holy Moly UK mocked up a design to fit on this particular stretch of wall, which we did as soon as we were able to paint safely.”
“My team did the painting. We didn’t want to get people out to paint so we said we’d paint it on his behalf which he was comfortable with.
“This is our way of saying thank you – it’s as simple as that.
“It will allow people to reflect about what this period meant to people and the hardship it caused. We hope it’s a piece that can celebrate workers and serve as a reflection of this time.”
Where can it be found?
The mural was painted on the side of 37 Addison Road, a building owned by housing association L&Q, which has worked with Wood Street Walls on these kinds of projects before.
Assistant neighbourhood director, Aine McGaley, said: “We’re so pleased that we are able to provide the canvas for such a fantastic mural.”
“Our residents are fully supportive of the idea and we are so impressed with the completed piece.
“This is a fantastic gesture and we stand with the rest of the country in thanking and applauding our wonderful NHS and all frontline workers for keeping us safe during these unprecedented times.”
