Mayfield Park transformed into a Living Canvas

Mayfield Park transformed into a Living Canvas: A vibrant 300-metre continuous artwork has been unveiled in Manchester’s Mayfield Park to mark the launch of Create Mayfield, a new creative fund that will invite artists, makers and creatives from across Greater Manchester and the North West to transform the city district’s public spaces.

Forming a striking counterpoint to the Park’s emerging spring landscape, the commission by Manchester artist Callum Simmons (known professionally as Piicasa) is believed to be the UK’s longest hand-drawn continuous artwork. It is the first in a rolling programme of creative interventions that will unfold across Mayfield as the area continues to evolve.

Constructed from hand-drawn grid lines and hand-sprayed colour, the uninterrupted composition — titled Future Loading — stretches continuously across the park’s current edge and is Simmons’ largest work to date.

Inspired by the natural landscape and the changing colours of the Manchester sky, the artwork captures the shifting light and energy of the city while signalling the role creativity will play as Mayfield continues to grow.

Framed by the softer textures of grasses, trees and early spring planting, its bold geometry creates a dynamic dialogue between the two, responding to movement, light and the shifting rhythms of the city, while beyond it the park’s canopy and perennial planting continue to establish, deepen and mature.

Applications are now open for the programme’s next commission, with visual artists, designers, storytellers, filmmakers and digital creatives invited to transform public-facing spaces across the district, from walls and archways to green spaces, billboards and digital platforms.

The programme will support a series of new creative commissions over the coming years as Mayfield evolves around its award-winning city park. Artists interested in future opportunities through Create Mayfield can find out more at www.createmayfield.com.

Callum Simmons (pictured above), said:

“I’m truly honoured to be part of and help launch Create Mayfield. Through this installation, I’m interpreting nature and how colours shift through light, shadow and atmosphere.

“To hand paint something at this scale is a dream and an incredible challenge. Manchester is full of creative talent, so having a platform where artists can develop and share their ideas is fantastic.

“The response from people passing through the park while I was creating it has been amazing, and I’m excited to see what other artists bring to Mayfield next.”

Cllr Bev Craig OBE, Leader of Manchester City Council, said:

“Create Mayfield is about giving creative people the freedom and the platform to realise ideas they may never have had the space or scale to bring to life before – while also creating a true sense of place in one of Manchester’s newest neighbourhoods.

“Manchester has a global reputation for the arts and creativity and this should be reflected in our public spaces. We want Mayfield to be a place where creativity happens in the open while the district itself is still taking shape. Callum’s artwork is a brilliant first chapter and we hope it inspires many more artists to get involved.”

Mayfield is one of Manchester’s most ambitious city centre regeneration projects. Over time, the district will grow within an extended Mayfield Park, creating new neighbourhoods, workplaces and cultural spaces beside the River Medlock.

Work is underway on The Republic, which will become Manchester’s first office building located within a city centre park, with further homes, workplaces and public spaces to follow.

Henrietta Nowne, Development Director at Landsec, on behalf of The Mayfield Partnership, said:

“It has been a joy to see people from all over the city region come and enjoy our award-winning park. As this whole district continues to grow we pride ourselves on the role we play in supporting local communities and talent, so it makes perfect sense to create a fund that gives home-grown creativity a platform.

“The moment Callum started to create this piece it began attracting lots of attention from visitors and we’re honoured to have it here at Mayfield for all to enjoy, perfectly demonstrating the breadth of creative skills we have right here in Manchester.”

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