‘Eyesore’ Nottingham substation given street art makeover

A substation in Nottingham which was covered in graffiti has been given a mural makeover.

The building in Danethorpe Road, Sherwood, has been transformed with a mural of a forest scene by artist Anna Wheelhouse after she was asked by a resident what she could do to tackle “offensive” graffiti at the site.

Ms Wheelhouse said it took her three days to complete the project in the “baking heat” but was “really pleased to have been able to help out”.

Cadent Gas, which owns the site and funded the new look, said it was “really proud” of the mural which gives the site “a real local feel”.

Ms Wheelhouse said she was asked to paint the building by a resident who had seen her work painting Sherwood Forest and the Major Oak on Sherwood’s Robin Hood pub.

The 42-year-old said Cadent “liked the idea” and added: “I don’t have a problem with people expressing themselves with graffiti if it’s proper graffiti, but this was kids messing and writing silly words.

“The locals have been lovely, everyone’s been really chatty about it and said thank you which is really nice.”

Tom Ballard, head of safety and engineering for Cadent in the East Midlands, said the mural “improves the look of a site that helps to keep gas flowing to the people of Sherwood”.

Ms Wheelhouse began painting nature after being asked by a Stapleford resident to work on his house.

She said: “He was getting a bit older and he had a beautiful garden, and he contacted me and sent me the plants he wanted.

“He had lots of people knocking on his door and asking about it, which was lovely, but that’s kind of what got me into doing more nature because I really enjoy it.”