Creative Start and the ‘Paint the Town Proud’ Project: Transforming North East Lincolnshire Through Art

1. What is Creative Start’s role in making the local area a more positive space?

Creative Start is a Lived Experience Recovery Organisation (LERO) and an arts in health programme. We work with individuals recovering from addiction, focusing on projects that help build self-esteem, confidence, and healthy obsessions. We aim to fill the void that addiction often leaves by providing a positive purpose through creativity.

Art is a healer. Many of the people we support have previously felt like a burden to society. Through our programme, we help them turn their lives around and become positive influences in the community.

One of our key initiatives is Paint the Town Proud, a project designed to bring pride to the residents of North East Lincolnshire. We brighten the streets through large-scale murals, transforming rundown areas into vibrant spaces. Our goal is to create a sense of pride and ownership in the community by revitalising often-forgotten spaces as well as more central locations.

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2. What does Creative Start do, and what does it hope to achieve with the mural art?

Creative Start CIC is a Lived Experience Recovery Organisation (LERO) that uses creativity as a tool for recovery from addictive behaviour. Our murals serve as a powerful and tangible reminder to the community that recovery is possible and that those in recovery can go on to achieve incredible things. We’ve been painting murals for several years, initially as a way to provide a sense of purpose for our members, and this has grown into a larger movement that benefits both individuals and the wider community.

As a team, we thrive on collaboration—our directors and members are all hands-on, creative people who love working together on large-scale projects. We function as a close-knit group, supporting and encouraging one another while sharing our artistic skills. The process of creating art, no matter the scale, has therapeutic value, and when we come together to paint a mural, the rewards go beyond simply adding colour to a wall. These projects help build confidence, develop skills, and foster a strong sense of belonging.

We’ve always focused on creating murals that celebrate the heritage of the local area. The Paint the Town Proud project allowed us to expand on the work we were already doing and provided an opportunity to commission artists, including internationally recognised muralists, to contribute to the transformation of North East Lincolnshire. Our aim was not only to brighten up the area but also to inspire and support local artists, giving them the confidence to create public art of their own.

A key part of our ethos is working on pioneering and innovative projects that present new challenges. Whether it’s murals or restoration work on the docks, we are always looking for ways to use our creative skills to help regenerate and restore the community. Paint the Town Proud was designed to plant a seed—to show what’s possible and encourage others to get involved in community-driven art. Through all of our projects, we prioritise building self-esteem, and everyone within Creative Start, from our members to our directors, plays an active, hands-on role in the creative process.

The Paint the Town Proud project aims to give the people of North East Lincolnshire a greater sense of pride in their community by enhancing the area's streets with colourful and inspiring murals.

We also aim to support and empower local artists, giving them the confidence and skills to work on public murals. By encouraging local artists to take on mural projects, we expand their creative opportunities. We have also invited national and international artists to contribute, providing inspiration and drawing visitors to the area to view the artwork. This has helped increase awareness of local talent and generate more interest in public art.

To further engage the public, we are creating a printed mural trail, which will be available at leisure centres, libraries, and tourist information centres. Over time, we hope this will become a tourist attraction in its own right.

Additionally, we have developed a colouring book called Colour the Town Proud, which features existing murals and includes space for people to design their own mural ideas. This is a way to encourage engagement with the artwork from audiences who may not have previously interacted with it.

Ultimately, we hope that Paint the Town Proud continues to inspire, empower, and bring people together through creativity. We want to see more local artists take on large-scale murals independently and for the project to leave a lasting impact on the community, proving that art can be a catalyst for positive change.

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3. As a mural artist, what impact do you think your work has on the community?

Public art is vital because it is accessible to everyone—it is not confined to galleries or museums but exists in public spaces, where anyone can enjoy it free of charge. The context of the surrounding landscape also influences the mural’s design, shaping its subject matter, colour palette, and size. If a mural is connected to its location, it becomes an integral part of the community’s identity.

Throughout the Paint the Town Proud project, we have worked with a range of artists covering various styles and themes, including surrealism, heritage, education, and contemporary art. This year, we plan to add murals featuring abstract designs, black-and-white themes, and community-led artwork.

The presence of murals has sparked conversations about art in the community, both in person and online. Each mural resonates with different people, and everyone has their own favourite. This increase in public engagement and dialogue around art was one of our key goals.

By commissioning LUAP for example, we have enabled local people to see his work without having to travel to London or overseas, while also bringing attention to Cleethorpes and Paint the Town Proud on an international scale.

Many of the artists involved in the project take part because they see mural painting as a new creative challenge, a way to enhance the town’s appearance, and an opportunity to make a positive impact on the streets of North East Lincolnshire.

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4. Would you say your work contributes to the cultivation of Grimsby? If so, how?

Absolutely. Art has the power to reshape perceptions of a place and encourage more people to visit. By creating large-scale public artworks, we have brought positivity to the area and helped regenerate spaces that were previously neglected.

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5. Can you tell us about some of the murals in the project?

Here are some of the key murals created as part of Paint the Town Proud:

‘The Great Wall of Grimsby’ by Dale Mackie – Inspired by Grimsby’s buildings and dock history, this mural is believed to be one of the largest hand-painted murals in the area.

‘Seaside Sundae’ by Woskerski – A surrealist depiction of Cleethorpes Beach by an internationally recognised artist who has worked with brands like Grolsch, Wagamama, and the Premier League.

‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered’ by Dogma Art – A mural resembling a postage stamp, referencing vintage train posters of Cleethorpes and the history of the Post Office building it is painted on.

‘Dig My Sandy Grave Whilst I Eat This Melting Ice-Cream’ by LUAP – Featuring his iconic Pink Bear, this mural connects with his ongoing artistic theme.

‘Grimsby Drive-In’ by Creative Start – A mural inspired by the history of Grimsby Docks, designed in an Americana style.

‘On the Beach’ by Kathleen Smith – A series of four murals highlighting species found along the Humber and North Sea coastline.

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6. Can people get involved in mural artwork? If so, how?

Yes! If anyone is interested in learning more about the murals or getting involved in future projects, they can reach out to us here.

We always try to involve as many people as possible, whether through mural painting, workshops, or supporting the project in other ways.