A colourful new mural which takes inspiration from the classic westerns of 20th-century cinema has gone on public display at Byker Metro station in Newcastle.
The mural re-imagines the past and present of East Newcastle through its Western-inspired design.
Stepney Western, created by local filmmaker Harry Lawson, explores the unique culture of young inner-city horse riders from the Stepney Bank Stables in Ouseburn.
We provided support for the work as part of our Art on Transport programme.
Byker Metro station has played host to a wide range of art works over the last two decades, including internationally-famous urban artists, community projects and photo exhibits by Metro customers.
John Souter, Head of Customer Service Operations at Nexus, said: “Byker Metro station has become a renowned location for public art over the last 20 years, and I’m delighted that is continuing through this latest collaboration with Stepney Bank Stables and Harry Lawson.
“Metro plays a really important role in showcasing public art work, so we had no hesitation in supporting the Stepney Western project for the station, to showcase the art work.
“The finished mural looks amazing and will be seen by thousands of our customers as they pass through the ticket concourse.”
Harry Lawson, the creator of Stepney Western, said: "It's a real joy to see the Stepney Western project come to life on this scale. The success of an artwork like this relies on the creativity and ambition of so many people. Hannah Gillingham and Kia Tasbihgou were integral in bringing the work to life, and both made enormous contributions to the final image. Most importantly though, the young people from Stepney provide its energy and its lifeforce. It's an honour to have been welcomed into their community over the past two years."
Dr Harriet Sutcliffe, Director of Newcastle Contemporary Art, said, “Newcastle Contemporary Art is proud to support local filmmaker Harry Lawson's ambitious project, Stepney Western, amplifying young voices and celebrating our region's rich cultural and industrial heritage.”
Sara Newson, Centre Manager at Stepney Bank Stables, said: "The young people have gained so much through taking part in the 'Stepney Western' project. For someone to think that their lives are worthy of a film is hugely empowering. They've been able to explore their creativity in new ways, travel to new places and meet new people, broadeing their horizons and opening up new possibilities."
From the painterly style to the colour palette and the typography, the mural attempts to look and feel like a 1950s Western film poster.
Workshops conducted with the core group of young people from Stepney Bank informed the artwork’s design and it features several local landmarks – including Byker Metro viaduct - as well as some of the riders and horses from the stables.
In pre-Photoshop days, posters like this were painted by hand and this aesthetic is mirrored by illustrator Hannah Gillingham, who Lawson collaborated with to produce the finished piece.
At the heart of the wider project is an experimental documentary that incorporates footage shot by riders on their iPhones, as well as material from North East Film Archive, Lawson’s own footage and fragments from the 2004 CBBC series The Stables.
The film, featuring an original soundtrack by local musicians Jayne Dent and Richard Dawson, presents an intergenerational portrait of the Byker community and is on show at Newcastle Contemporary Art from 15 March - 27 April 2025. The exhibition will feature free creative workshops, inviting young people to create film posters and engage with the themes of the project.
A limited-edition publication, inspired by the Byker Phoenix community magazine of the 1970s and 1980s, will accompany the exhibition, featuring new writing and original articles.
Stepney Western is supported by Arts Council England, BFI Doc Society Fund awarding National Lottery funding and Community Foundation. Project partners include Ouseburn Trust, AmberSide Collection, Seven Stories, Nexus, NewBridge Print Studio, Foundation Press, North East Film Archive and Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival.