Second stage of spray-painted murals takes shape in plan to transform rundown Northampton underpass

The walls along the subway between Sheep Street and Market Square have stood plain and shabby for years.

But a plan to transform Emporium Way with graffiti artwork kicked off earlier this month.

Today (December 20), the second artist commissioned by project team NorFAMtoN sprayed the first layers of their mural on the east side wall.

It comes as part of a masterplan by NorFAMtoN, an art project set up to turn the footpath into the town’s first dedicated space for live art, street food festivals and outdoor exhibitions.

The first mural in the plan was completed earlier this month.

Project coordinator Kate Stanton said: “This is the first step of repurposing this area into an urban exhibit. It’s a really cool architectural space and I’m really keen to see it play to Northampton’s strengths.

“Northampton is a great place. It’s had its ups and downs over the years but there’s plenty of creative people here and we want to see more effort put into celebrating that.”

Over the next two months, the underpass will be decorated with more murals to fill the walls. Ideas include images of Greek Gods, Francis Crick and the works of Northampton’s own Alan Moore.

The first street food festival for the new space has been pencilled in for mid-March.

Kate and project leader Shereen Ingram have worked with the borough council, Northampton BID and the University of Northampton to create NorFAMtoN’s dream.

Surveying his work, street artist Uncle Stubble told the Chronicle & Echo: “I love doing work like this in places for the kids to enjoy. It’s a boring world to look at sometimes and street art can bring so much colour and inspiration. It’s what I loved growing up too.”