Students from The Henley College Create Stunning Mural Highlighting Environmental Issues and Celebrating Local Heritage 

The Henley College is excited to announce the launch of a vibrant new street art project in collaboration with Henley Town Council and Henley in Bloom. This initiative will see students, guided by professional street artist Andrew Manson, create a striking mural on the hoardings at the former Henley Youth Centre on Deanfield Avenue. 

The project was conceived as part of the town’s preparations for the 2025 Britain in Bloom competition and aligns with Henley Town Council’s broader environmental and community engagement objectives. The artwork will not only enhance the local street scene but will also raise awareness of the Council’s ongoing campaign for improved river water quality—a key priority following its efforts to hold Thames Water accountable for pollution and to advocate for cleaner waterways. 

Sheridan Jacklin-Edward, Town Clerk, expressed the Council’s enthusiasm for the initiative, stating: 

“The Town Council are thrilled to be working with Henley College on this project, not only improving the street scene but highlighting our ongoing campaigning for better river water quality. The students, with Mani, have created some fantastic designs and we'd like to thank them for all their work.” 

Henley College students have actively participated in a series of workshops led by Andrew, also known as Mani, where they have developed artistic skills while engaging with themes of nature and water quality. The project fosters a stronger relationship between the College and the wider community, providing students with an invaluable opportunity to contribute to public art in their town. 

A Community Collaboration Inspired by Henley 

The impressive 100m² new mural is being unveiled in Henley, created by nine talented students from The Henley College’s UAL Foundation Diploma in Art & Design. Art Teacher Jenny Fogarty liaised closely with Mani and the students, guiding them through the design, development, and execution of the mural. 

Reflecting on the project, Jenny said: 

"This has been a fantastic opportunity for our Art Foundation students to showcase their incredible artistic abilities while learning how to manage a live project. They have risen to the challenge of developing ideas, submitting them to the client, refining their concepts, and ultimately transforming a plain space into something vibrant and meaningful for the community. With Mani’s expert guidance, they’ve gained invaluable experience in teamwork, communication, and project management - skills that will serve them well in their future careers." 

The Artists Behind the Mural 

The following students took part in the project: 

• Spike Poynton 

• Aela Martin 

• Layla Simpson 

• Annabel Millward 

• Cian Macken 

• Lois Harrison 

• Jack Danton 

• Alice Carvalho 

A Journey from Dystopia to Utopia 

The mural explores the theme of dystopia to utopia, inspired by environmental concerns about the River Thames and its impact on the local community. The design follows a swan, which is symbolic of Henley and its famous Regatta, as it sweeps across the mural, leaving behind the polluted waters of dystopia and guiding viewers towards a cleaner, healthier vision of the river. 

Mani Manson-Reeves, who mentored the students throughout the project, explained: 

"This is a live working project that allowed the students to creatively interpret the environmental issues surrounding river pollution. The mural moves from dystopia to utopia as the swan glides across Henley, highlighting an issue of both national and local importance while enhancing the local area. It’s been a privilege to see the students develop several concepts and refine their ideas before arriving at this impactful final design." 

Artistic Inspiration and Themes 

The mural draws inspiration from a variety of sources, including: 

• Posters of Kew Gardens – reflecting the beauty of natural environments 

• The work of John Piper – capturing British landscapes and architectural heritage 

• Henley Royal Regatta – celebrating Henley’s rich rowing history 

• The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine – adding a playful nod to cultural icons 

Spike Poynton, one of the student artists, who drew the final design, Swansong spoke about the inspiration behind the mural: 

"After last year’s Regatta, some rowers became ill due to a decline in water quality. We wanted to raise awareness of this issue while also celebrating the beauty of Henley—the utopia. Our design incorporates elements from Kew Gardens posters and John Piper’s work, while also including rowers on the river and a fun nod to Yellow Submarine. Mani has been a rock throughout this process. We’ve never done anything on this scale before, and it’s taught us invaluable skills like teamwork, communication, and project management." 

A Challenging but Rewarding Experience

The project gave students the chance to work on a professional brief, managing everything from initial design concepts to risk assessments and execution. Principal Simon Spearman praised the students’ efforts, saying: 

"This has been a great example of community collaboration where the students not only showcased their artistic talent but also developed essential project management and teamwork skills. The final mural looks fantastic, and I’m incredibly proud of their hard work and dedication." 

A Lasting Legacy for Henley

Mayor of Henley, Rory Hunt, was equally impressed by the mural, commenting: 

"I’m stunned by the incredible work the students have achieved. They’ve transformed what was previously an uninspiring space into a vibrant feature that reflects the spirit of Henley. The mural captures so much of what makes Henley special—there’s a nod to The Beatles, references to rowing, and the beauty of the natural landscape. The students should be immensely proud of their achievement, and I’m delighted that the Town Council was able to support this fantastic project." 

Visit and Celebrate the New Mural 

As the final touches are added this week, the mural is set to become a prominent feature of Henley, offering residents and visitors a visual celebration of the town’s identity and highlighting the importance of environmental awareness. 

This exciting project not only showcases the artistic talent of The Henley College’s Foundation students but also demonstrates how creativity, collaboration, and community spirit can come together to create something truly extraordinary. 

Henley Town Council and The Henley College extends its sincere thanks to Lee Wood, CEO of B&M Care Homes, for allowing the use of the hoardings for this creative endeavour. Without this support, such an inspiring project would not be possible. 

The mural’s completion is expected by the end of March, just in time for the Britain in Bloom judges’ tour. The Council encourages residents and visitors to follow the project’s progress and celebrate this wonderful example of community collaboration.