Art project launched to revamp Wickersley subway

Cambridge School of Art graduate Katie Minns and Rotherham creative Vicky Hilton are working together with students from Wickersley School on a new look for the Tanyard shopping precinct’s underpass.

They have kicked off a series of workshops with students to research the area’s natural and industrial heritage, including the period when a quarry was operating.

The project came about after Vicky, under the banner of arts project Artful, led a team transforming the rundown subways at St Ann’s with a series of murals depicting Rotherham landmarks and notable figures from its history.

After impressing Rotherham Borough Council’s neighbourhood development team, she was asked to pursue a similar scheme in Wickersley.

“It will be similar to the St Ann’s murals but with more of a nature scheme and looking at Wickersley’s history of quarrying and woodlands,” said Vicky.

“The young people are researching and drawing up different designs and they are going to be coming down and doing the artwork later in the year.

Katie, who now works as an illustrator, is a former student at Wickersley and Vicky said she was delighted the talented artist had been keen to return to her old school and inspire the next generation.