Faversham: Street artist Graham Upton brightens up smelly subway

Jane Secker a dimly-lit, dirty-looking subway with steps leading out into the light outside. Graffiti is scrawled on the side one of three wall light strips. There are patches of white paint over the grey tiles on the walls. The ceiling is dirty and curved like in a tunnel.

A street artist has created a mural for a Faversham subway based on what the locals love about their town.

Graham Upton worked with young people in the area, collecting their ideas on places to represent in the artwork, and collaborated with the Faversham Society on details of the town’s history.

Trustee Jane Secker said the response to the mural had been “overwhelmingly positive”.

The colourful transformation of the Mall underpass and other street art projects will be discussed by the artist at an event at the Guildhall on 21 January.

Ms Secker said the subway was used regularly by locals and visitors, but was “smelly, damp, prone to flooding when it rains and litter”.

Jane Secker a small crowd of people watch a man spray paint a mural onto a wall in a white and grey tiled underpass

“The first mural was produced by Graham after talking to the students at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School about what matters to them in the town,” she said.

“The second came from a consultation with the Faversham Society – so it represents images and iconic buildings from the town.

“For the young people it was the cinema, the swimming pool, Ozzie’s Fish and Chips as well as the Guildhall and King Stephen.

“The Faversham Society focused on the history of the town, the iconic buildings, the brewery, but also the orchards and the Creek.”

Jane Secker part of the mural, depicting a large green building with arches in the town of Faversham, with

Jane Secker part of the mural, depicting a blue outdoor swimming pool surrounded by single-storey white buildings with large roofs, and greenery around. Above is painted

Jane Secker a section of the mural depicting a takeaway of fish and chips

The project to clean it up involved the town council, West Faversham Community Association, Faversham Society, Network Rail and local MP Helen Whately.

“People say it’s brightened up the subway,” said Ms Secker.

“It’s cleaner now. It’s a much nicer arrival for those coming through the subway into the town for the first time.”