GTR Progression Video
Before & After
Empowering Youth Through Art: Finsbury Park Mural Project
Partners: Co-Creative Connection (CCC), Thameslink, Great Northern, Arsenal in the Community
Location: Finsbury Park Station, London
Date: November 2023 - April 2024
The Vision
Co-Creative Connection (CCC), in collaboration with Thameslink, Great Northern, and Arsenal in the Community, transformed Finsbury Park Station with a vibrant mural designed by local youth. The project aimed to empower young people, celebrate cultural diversity, and enhance community pride.
“With Rose’s creative leadership, Arsenal’s invaluable local relationships and practical support, and our young artists’ enthusiasm and commitment, we’re working together to provide Finsbury Park with a public artwork that will truly enrich the community our station serves.”
The Journey
Engaging Local Talent: Thirteen students (aged 14-15) from the City of London Academy Highbury Grove took part in four hands-on workshops led by CCC founder, Rose Hill. Participants explored colour theory, pattern-making, and co-design techniques to shape the mural's design.
Creating Together: The final mural, installed over four nights, spans two hand-painted sections (4m x 2.5m) and 14 vinyl panels (7m x 2.5m and 2.5m x 2.5m). The artwork celebrates the diverse traditions and stories of the local community, featuring bold patterns and colours reflecting themes from Ghanaian, Somali, and global cultures.
"Arsenal F.C and GTR have teamed up with community art organisation Co-Creative Connection to launch a series of art workshops in which local young people design a mural for Finsbury Park station."
The Impact
The mural has revitalized the station, creating a welcoming space that fosters a sense of belonging. Participants developed new artistic skills, confidence, and connections. The project received glowing feedback, with local youth expressing pride in seeing their creative visions brought to life. Discover more about the design process and hear directly from the participants below 👉 About The Design.
A Lasting Legacy
This artwork embodies the spirit of Finsbury Park’s diverse and united community. With support from partners like Thameslink and Arsenal in the Community, the mural has left a lasting mark on both the station and the people involved.
Visit Finsbury Park Station to experience the mural and witness the creativity of our local youth in action
About The Design
Learn about the individuals who participated in this project and the thought process behind the design choices for each section of the mural.
Ibrahim created a black and white check pattern inspired by Workshop 2 techniques. This design resonates with the Mousetrap club night aesthetic.
“My favourite part of the workshop was doing the activities with the people I know and it was fun! I'm proud of the art I made. I think it'll mean to the Finsbury Park community like we are all one and together we stronger. I personally thought it was brilliant overall .”
Salim chose light grey for its neutrality, balance, and calmness, aiming to evoke sophistication and simplicity. He incorporated color blocking with yellow for positivity, purple for creativity, and black for depth. His unique diagonal stripe features a condensed chevron pattern for added visual interest.
“Fun! Love it. It makes me feel nice and good.”
Ayoub incorporated yellow for joy and energy, aiming to infuse our mural with positivity. Green signifies growth and harmony, fostering a lively and balanced atmosphere in Finsbury Park's space. Ayoub designed this two-tone Chervons infusing the design with a spectrum of colours.
“My favourite part of the workshop is the overall experience. I am most proud that we got this opportunity to put this together and my work of course. I feel like this mural would just give off a better vibe for the people coming in and out of Finsbury Park via train station. I loved the experience the most about the workshop.”
Coach Raph celebrates his Ghanaian culture and heritage through these two vibrant pattern designs, contributing to the rich tapestry of multicultural influences within the Finsbury Park community.
“I feel like it'll make a positive impact, especially in the community, because meaning your thoughts and your ideas can create something. And also you can base it on bringing everything that you make together. You can branch out and you can follow up and show your whole community what you've done.”
Adam's design features dark blue clouds with light blue linings, representing resilience and hope. Diagonal checks add depth, while Pollock-inspired splatters convey energy. Vibrant red and pink patterns symbolize love and warmth, creating dynamic contrasts.
“It was creative and nice and it’s good for the youth. I think it will create a more possible vibe and it’s encouraging for the kids. I liked getting to know more people”
Yusuf wanted to use the Arsenal logo and made one with fabric on his mood-board in workshop 1. We translated this to wayfinding to help people find their way to the Emirates Stadium, creating a sense of direction in the community.
“Very nice experience, proud of my artwork”
Andrew's design features a green polka dot, a blue-black-green chevron, and yellow checks, techniques from Workshop 2. Inspired by Finsbury Park's landscape, it includes chevrons for the pond, a packed repeat for grass, and a half-brick repeat for buildings. Yellow accents add positivity.
“The thing I most liked about the project was the fact that it got the whole community together and everybody had their own ideas for making their little square and it was great that everybody had the opportunity to express their own creativity and I like the fact that when it's put together, it looks beautiful.”
Muaad created a blue-green polka dot stripe from Workshops 1 & 2. Warm colors were added from Workshop 1. Ibrahim and Muaad used a black and white check pattern from Workshop 2, reflecting the 60s and the Mousetrap club night. Abdullahi and Muaad designed inclusive half square triangles in various colors.
“Favourite part was picking out the design for the mural. I'm most proud of my drawing. I think it will represent the youth of Finsbury park and Islington.”
Moyaad designed diagonal checks using his favourite colours of blue and black and wanted to include ‘FPK’ to represent Finsbury Park. Moyaad created his own unique horizontal stripe incorporating a polka dot pattern. Using striking and impactful colours of red, black, blue and orange.
“What I liked about the project was getting together with my friends and being surrounded by the community.”
Abdullahi's design, influenced by Workshop 1, features warm to cool hues and light blue lines symbolizing trust and intelligence. Inspired by his Somali heritage, he included stars representing the Somali flag. Additionally, he created checks in pink and grey from Workshops 1 & 2, with dark blue symbolizing stability in Finsbury Park. Abdullahi also crafted a diagonal chevron pattern reflecting warm to cool hues from Workshop 1.
“I think that when people pass, I think sometimes they make their day seeing that young people made this. It's amazing to me. The community have a brighter space and the station will be like, more colourful. ”
Mohammed opted for pink to represent love, youthfulness, and playfulness, while white symbolizes purity and new beginnings. Combining these colours creates a blend of love and purity, fostering positive emotions in the community. Mohammed also created a vibrant colour-block design in red and purple.
“I enjoyed the project and making the art.”
 These designs are inspired by the patterns on the Thameslink and Great Northern train seat covers, integrating them as a central element in our co-created artwork. By bringing the train seat covers to life on our canvas, we contribute to a vibrant and meaningful narrative in our collaborative creation. |  This design is inspired by the patterns on the GTR train seat covers, integrating them as a central element in our co-created artwork. By bringing the GTR train seat covers to life on our canvas, we contribute to a vibrant and meaningful narrative in our collaborative creation. |  The 1960s print is featured as a tribute to the iconic Mousetrap 60s club night, a longstanding monthly event held at Finsbury Park's Orleans Club for an impressive 32 years |
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 We've integrated artwork inspired by African Art to reflect the diverse and vibrant community spirit of Finsbury Park. |  We’ve incorporated an African inspired artwork to capture the multicultural essence of the Finsbury Park community. |  In homage to the legendary Mousetrap 60s club night, a fixture at Finsbury Park's Orleans Club for an impressive 32 years, this lively design incorporates vibrant colours such as reds, yellows, pinks, and blues, reminiscent of the energetic and dynamic atmosphere of the iconic nights. |
 This Somali-inspired pattern art beautifully captures the multicultural essence of the Finsbury Park community. Many boys participating in the workshops have Somali backgrounds, adding a personal connection that enriches the representation of diverse cultures in our collaborative project. |  The vibrant rainbow artwork, bursting with a spectrum of colours, symbolises diversity, inclusivity, and the beauty of unity. Each hue represents a unique facet of the community, coming together to create a harmonious and uplifting visual narrative. |  We’ve incorporated an Indian inspired artwork to capture the multicultural essence of the Finsbury Park community. |
 This Comoros stripe design incorporates the traditional dress colours of orange, red, and yellow, reflecting the rich multicultural tapestry of the Finsbury Park community. |  We've integrated artwork inspired by Indian and African cultures to reflect the diverse and vibrant community spirit of Finsbury Park. |  We've integrated artwork inspired by Indian and African cultures to reflect the diverse and vibrant community spirit of Finsbury Park. |
 We've integrated artwork inspired by Indian and African cultures to reflect the diverse and vibrant community spirit of Finsbury Park. |  In tribute to the legendary Mousetrap 60s club night held at Finsbury Park's Orleans Club for an impressive 32 years, this 1960s-inspired design features vibrant colors, including reds and whites. The red symbolizes passion and energy, while the white adds a touch of purity and elegance. The palette reflects the energetic and dynamic atmosphere reminiscent of the iconic nights. |  We've integrated artwork inspired by Arabic and Art to reflect the diverse and vibrant community spirit of Finsbury Park. |
 This design is inspired by the patterns on the GTR train seat covers, integrating them as a central element in our co-created artwork. By bringing the GTR train seat covers to life on our canvas, we contribute to a vibrant and meaningful narrative in our collaborative creation. |  We've integrated Tartan traditional Scottish designs to reflect the diverse and vibrant community spirit of Finsbury Park. |  This design is inspired by the patterns on the Thameslink and Great Northern train seat covers, integrating them as a central element in our co-created artwork. By bringing the train seat covers to life on our canvas, we contribute to a vibrant and meaningful narrative in our collaborative creation. |
 In tribute to the legendary Mousetrap 60s club night held at Finsbury Park's Orleans Club for an impressive 32 years, this 1960s-inspired design features vibrant colours, including pink and blue. The pink exudes playfulness and warmth, while the blue adds a touch of calmness and sophistication. The palette reflects the energetic and dynamic atmosphere reminiscent of the iconic nights. |  The LGBTQIA2S+ flagis a symbol of diversityand inclusion within the LGBTQ+ community. Its rainbow colours represent various sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions.The "+" acknowledges the ongoing expansion of identities and serves as a reminder of the importance of acceptance and support for all individuals regardless of their gender or sexuality. |
“Favourite thing is being able to be creative alongside local young people and explore their creative potential and build, develop, collaborate with their ideas. Proud of engaging with a social action project in the busy month of December. Feel like this creates a snapshot of the multifaceted and diverse community Finsbury Park holds. Enjoyed the creative facilitation a process explored across the sessions.”