Westcliff on Sea, Shore & Sky
Westcliff on Sea, Shore & Sky
Location: Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex
Client: Milton Community Partnerships
Site type: Public pathway / regeneration
Role: Lead artist
Year: 2024
Outcome: A neglected and avoided stairway was transformed into a safe, recognisable route reconnecting the town with the seafront.
Developer Takeaway: A story-led intervention reactivated a neglected pedestrian route, improving safety, wayfinding, and community ownership without relying on physical redevelopment.
The Context
This project centred on a large public stairway linking Westcliff town centre with the seafront and railway station. Over time, the space had become dilapidated, dirty, and associated with antisocial behaviour. Local residents reported avoiding the stairs altogether, particularly at night, due to safety concerns.
The challenge was not simply to clean or repair the space. Without a deeper intervention, any cosmetic improvements risked being temporary. The artwork needed to actively shift how the space was perceived, used, and cared for — reframing it as a safe, welcoming route rather than a place to pass through quickly or avoid.
Public art was identified as a way to regenerate the stairway while adding long-term value, creating a positive identity that would endure beyond routine maintenance.
The Challenge
Physical constraints:
The stairway spanned four levels and included both interior and exterior sections. Access was complex: a cherry picker was available for only one day, with the remainder of the work requiring specialist stair-ladder equipment. The surfaces themselves were unstable and required remediation before any painting could begin.
Social constraints:
The area was undergoing regeneration and included nearby hostels and halfway houses, making the site socially sensitive. There were mixed community opinions about investment priorities, with some residents questioning why money was being spent on art rather than infrastructure.
The stairway was also associated with drug use and incidents of violence, which required a careful, respectful approach to engagement and storytelling.
Strategic constraints:
Budgets and timelines were fixed but workable. Planning permissions were in place, allowing the focus to remain on delivery and engagement.
Commissioner Matt King of Milton Community Partnerships (2nd), local Councillor, Maxine Sadza (3rd), Artist Shauna Blanchfield (5th) and three local volunteers on the first day of mural prep
The Approach
Working closely with the commissioners, the project began with a thematic decision to explore Westcliff’s local ecology. The area is part of one of the sunniest regions in the UK and is home to unique conservation zones and protected wildlife species.
Research was carried out in collaboration with local wildlife groups and community sources to identify species specific to the area and meaningful to residents.
Two community workshops were held in a local hub café. Participants created unprompted designs using small cereal boxes shaped to reflect the stairway’s form. These sessions opened up conversations about:
which wildlife species mattered most to people
what the stairway represented emotionally
how the route connected the town, the sea, and the station
A recurring theme emerged: the stairway was seen as a broken link, a route that should connect town and sea, but no longer felt usable or safe.
Based on this insight, the mural concept was developed as a journey from sea to sky. The artwork rises through underwater life, shoreline species, and finally birds, mirroring both the physical ascent of the stairs and the symbolic reconnection of place.
A placemaking element was also introduced to strengthen identity. Positioned between Leigh-on-Sea and Southend, Westcliff was often perceived as being “in between.” A faux-neon typographic element spelling “Westcliff-on-Sea” was incorporated, visible from the seafront. At night, an existing wall light aligns with the dot above the “i,” creating a subtle illuminated marker that anchors the location after dark.
The Artwork
The final work is a fully immersive mural spanning four levels of the stairway, approximately nine metres high. All visible surfaces were painted to create a continuous experience from entry to exit.
Medium: Spray paint
Finish: Stabilised with Zinsser Peel Stop Primer
Protection: Two coats Coo-Var P101 Two Pack Anti Graffiti Coating (Sponsored by the manufacturer)
Environment: Coastal, with specific considerations for oxidation and durability
The mural is visible from the seafront and functions both as an artwork and a wayfinding marker, signalling arrival in Westcliff.
The Outcome
The stairway has been reactivated as a usable public route. Where people once avoided the space, it is now regularly used as a thoroughfare between town, station, and sea.
Community response has been overwhelmingly positive. Parents have been seen using the mural to talk to children about local wildlife, and the space now invites lingering rather than avoidance.
One resident shared that they had previously avoided the stairway after being attacked there and experiencing severe distress. Returning to the space after the mural was completed felt, in their words, like the experience had been “washed away.”
The artwork has also helped clarify Westcliff’s identity, marking it clearly as distinct from neighbouring areas. It now functions as both a placemaking landmark and a symbolic gateway between town and coast.
From a practical standpoint, the mural has already been tested: tagging and dirt have occurred and been successfully cleaned, demonstrating the effectiveness of the protective coatings.
Westcliff Staircase, before and after
Why It Worked
The project succeeded because the idea was clear, legible, and locally grounded. “Sea, Shore & Sky” takes the familiar phrase Westcliff-on-Sea and transforms it into a visual journey that mirrors how people move through the space.
The artwork is bold enough to shift perception, but specific enough to feel true to place. By rooting the narrative in local ecology and lived experience, the mural feels owned rather than imposed.
Strong collaboration with community partners was also key. Local organisations had already built trust, supported engagement, and provided practical infrastructure — from volunteer support to secure storage — allowing the project to move smoothly from concept to delivery.
The result is a space that now functions as an entrance, a route, and a point of pride — reconnecting Westcliff town and sea through story.
Photo’s from the mural launch in May 2024 © Gaz de Vere
“The idea of the art installation was to make a dilapidated, unsafe and misused space into a safe, bright, happy one. This has been more than achieved and looks amazing. Thank you to Matthew King and Shauna Blanchfield for creating such an amazing art work that will be there for all Westcliff residents and visitors to see for many years to come.”
Press and Coverage
20 April 2024: Southend Echo | Hamlet Court Road dilapidated area to transform with work
10 May 2024: Southend Echo | Westcliff dilapidated building transformed with mural
Discuss your site, objectives, and whether a story-led approach is right for your space.
If you’re not sure if a mural is the right tool for your project