On Sunday 28th September, bright and early, Darrell (aka the artist @soapspray90) started transforming a large graffitied Severn Trent Utility Box in Cator Lane park.

Utility boxes are everywhere and they aren’t something you necessarily notice, even when they are covered in (in this case) offensive graffiti and ‘tagging’. It’s just something that sort of seeps into your consciousness and forms part of the general feeling you have about where you live. So when Jeanie O’Shea started to transform the utility boxes in the area as part of the street art programme, I loved it because it gives you a little lift when you walk past them, showing people someone does care about our shared spaces. Years later I joined the Civic Society committee. By being around the amazing group of people that make up the committee, I realised that I could also make changes to our shared spaces. 

One day I was in Cator Lane park with my kids and I was thinking this is a gorgeous park, I love the trees and the community orchard, but that utility box is ruining everything.  Inspired by Jeanie, I set about trying to improve the box, this was in February 2025. What I thought would be easy, was not! Hats off to Jeanie and the thousands and thousands of volunteer hours she must have given to get Beeston Street Art to where it is today. I had to:

1. Find out who the box was owned by – a local mum from school helped me figure out it was Severn Trent.

2. Get permission from Severn Trent – another local mum with links there helped with contacting them.

3. Get permission from the council to access the land – again with help from the members of the committee, Mervyn and Mike.

4. Find an artist – through help from Jeanie and her Beeston Street Art facebook page

5. Develop the idea with the artist SoapSpray – who was incredibly helpful 

6. Get feedback on the idea from other local parents, the committee, people with knowledge of local wildlife connections etc.

7. Find funding with help from the other members of the Committee,particularly our treasurer Gary.

8. Working closely with Helen Faccio, the councillor who funded the piece, complete the necessary documentation and again with help from Gary sort out the finances.

9. Arrange the day for painting – which ended up being swapped about a bit due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances

10. Write press releases,take photos for press etc again helped by the committee

But it was all worth it as I sat for about 5 hours on Sunday morning and watched Darrell transform the box. I also had a great time chatting to people using the park and explaining what was going on. Overall I was proud to show my kids that with a bit of effort and help from people in the know, changes can be made to where we live.

Jane Harvey

September 2025