We worked with Ashford Borough Council and London-based artist, illustrator and animator Will Barras to create A Town in Motion, the latest addition to Ashford Unframed—the mural festival we helped coordinate and install across the town in 2023.
Having wanted to collaborate with Barras for some time, this project provided the perfect opportunity. His distinctive visual language, built from fluid perspectives and expressive gestural lines, was a natural fit for the brief: to create a mural that celebrates Ashford's energy, movement and connections.
To inform the final artwork, we held a series of workshops with local community groups across Ashford. Themes of dance, nature, development and movement emerged throughout these conversations, becoming the foundation of the final design.
“This has been a really rewarding project to be part of from start to finish. Everyone was incredibly encouraging during the week of painting, and it was great to have so many conversations with local people and the community.
The workshops and consultations with Jasmin Vardimon Dance Studio and Ashford residents really helped develop the ideas behind the mural, creating a piece of art that the community can feel connected to.”
