An artist completed a new mural on Northern Avenue to inspire young people in the area and pay respects to a former boxing club.

The word “Aspire” in the mural refers to a now closed boxing gym that was once central to the community. 

Aspire Boxing Club recently moved its venue because the special school that owns the building needed the space to help more pupils. 

Alastair Flindall, 33, an artist and founder of Neck of the Wood Studio, said: “Many of the lyrics were talking about dreams and wanting to aspire for more. So it’s married up to the boxing gym name really well, even though that’s not there anymore.”

He also mentioned that many people in neighbourhoods like Arbourthorne face challenges due to their lower socioeconomic status and high rates of social deprivation. 

These communities often have limited access to arts and creative opportunities and there are fewer local role models to encourage them. Mr Flindall used bright colours to inspire this creativity into Arbourthorne. 

He said: “This is something that from across the street, as soon as you turn the corner onto Northern Avenue, it catches your eye.”

The mural was commissioned following workshops led by the CMPOUND, during which young people from the community created lyrics expressing their dreams and challenges. 

Mr Flindall attended the workshops and incorporated the lyrics into the mural’s design.

He said: “A lot of my work is about taking phrases, taking imagery and making it more satirical, more humorous, more lighthearted, and playing on the words. 

“It’s something that most people are not gonna walk down the street and know what that piece is about, but I and the people that were part of the journey know the message.”

Some of Alastair’s favourite lyrics are “Born & bred in Sheff” (or as he drew it, “Born & bread”), “Killing the beat as I’m hustlin’ hard”, and “Snakes coming at my head like Medusa.”

In designing the mural, Mr Flindall explained that the snake symbolises things that stop the youngsters’ dreams and the bad influence of their friends. 

The metaphor of hands symbolises various life stages, with the pencil representing lyric writing and musicianship bringing those words to life. 

Mr Flindall said: “You don’t get to the watch at the end without the bread at the beginning.”

The mural was painted with assistance from Stog, and the project was supported by Manor & Castle Development Trust. 

Mr Flindall’s next mural will be installed in Manor Park in March 2025, continuing his work to bring public art to east Sheffield’s neighbourhoods.