Paston local fed up with graffiti asks for mural on garden wall

A resident who was “fed up” after her outer garden wall was repeatedly vandalised, commissioned an artist to create a new mural.

Rachel Hobbs-Harding, 46, has lived in her home in Paston, Peterborough, for nearly two years.

Six months after moving into her new home on Seymour Place, she claimed her garden wall, which overlooks a footpath, was targeted with graffiti – an experience she said “nearly moved her to tears”.

Ms Harding has now asked Nathan Murdoch, from Street Arts Hire, to put a design on the wall to “create a positive environment” and deter more unsolicited spraying.

Ms Hobbs-Harding said she moved into her new home after a “stressful time in life” and had hoped to settle down and enjoy her new start.

“But six months into my new house, I woke up one day and saw this graffiti,” she said.

“I just couldn’t believe it. I have found it very unsettling. I have had at least four or five graffiti artists tag my wall in the last year/year and a half. I was absolutely frustrated.”

She said she approached different companies to get it cleaned but was quoted around £400-£500.

She added: “I thought if I have to spend the money I might as well commission an artwork.”

Mr Murdoch said he was given “free rein” on the mural and would be creating a colourful owl on the wall over the next few days.

He said he had carried out similar projects around the city before.

“As a street artist myself I look at graffiti differently to other people – perhaps not as vandalism,” he said.

“But I understand private spaces should be respected.”

Ms Hobbs-Harding, who works at Peterborough Passport Office, said she was “extremely grateful” to Street Arts Hire for coming on board and doing the work without a charge.

“The wall can be seen from the main road actually, so I hope the artwork will make it [the street] presentable,” she said.