Discover the North East’s best street art: A guide to vibrant murals and the stories behind them

By Emma Rowell

From Newcastle’s coolest suburb of Ouseburn, right down to Hartlepool’s Headlands, the region’s street art scene is not short of vibrancy. Read about some of the artist’s work on the walls and the stories behind them… 

Whether you’re an art enthusiast or just enjoy taking in the region’s scenery, street art is dotted around almost every corner of the North East for you to feast your eyes on.

From show-off pieces to hidden gems, there is no limit to the creativity of the artists behind the work.

The North East is known for its urban centres and natural beauty – and the region’s street art adds interest and quirkiness to the area.

Let us take you for a quick tour of the region’s more impressive street art and murals…

‘Young hearts run free’

Hadrian’s Wall Path, Quayside, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 2PQ 

Situated between Newcastle’s suburb of Ouseburn and the Quayside, this artwork brings vibrancy to Steenbergs Yard. The master behind this piece of art is resident Geordie Alex Mulholland, more commonly known as ‘Mul’ (read our recent interview with Mul, here). This distinctive mural includes his signature heart motif that can be spotted all over the city. His individually bright, disco-style characters bring colour to the city and its outskirts. Mul’s inspiration for his art is heavily focused on the music he listens to when he paints, allowing him to create distinctive pieces for everyone to recognise.

‘The Ship Inn’

The Ship Inn, Middlegate, Hartlepool, TS24 0JN

Depicting the Hartlepool RNLI all-weather lifeboat, County Durham-based Lewis Hobson has created a space to celebrate the volunteer crew. This mural is situated at the gable end of the Ship Inn in the Headland area of Hartlepool, bringing life to the pub’s outside walls. The 28-year-old artist didn’t take creating this piece lightly, and with over a month of preparation, he was able to pay tribute to those dedicated volunteers who were involved. This piece brings to life the ‘Betty Huntbatch’ lifeboat with a volunteer crew on board, paying homage to those who save lives at sea.

Zapatista

Ridley Place, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8JW

A restaurant with an outside view – that’s exactly what Newcastle City Council had in mind when commissioning a new welcome mural for Newcastle’s city centre. Designed by Peter Manning, this latest addition to the wall of Mexican restaurant Zapatista in Ridley Place draws eyes to the sky. This is one of two pieces commissioned by the city, which looks to give the place a new lease of life and harness its independent spirit. With Peter’s influences being drawn from all over the world, this has been channeled through this stencil-based and vibrant art project. 

‘Peace and love’

Jesmond Road, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 1LA

Located on the wall of Peace and Loaf in Jesmond, another Alex Mulholland (Mul) piece takes centre stage on Jesmond Road. With a strong interest in character graffiti, Mul challenges the norm of letters associated with graffiti art and creates his stamp on the city – this piece is no different. This mural is a signpost for the saying ‘good food and good company’ that brings more vibrancy to the Newcastle suburb, adding character and personality to the place. 

Quayside

Wesley Square, Quayside, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 3DH

In light of the summer months and the anticipation of sunshine, the Quayside in Newcastle got its very own vibrant makeover. Designed by internationally acclaimed artist, Andy Welland, this piece stretches over 90 meters, guiding pedestrians down the banks of the River Tyne. As part of the ‘Summer in the City’ programme, this piece decorates the pavement with a flurry of interesting shapes and colours. Andy’s work on the quayside encourages interaction and gives the locals something to admire in their own way, and interpret however they see fit.

Butterflies

High Street West, Sunniside, Sunderland, SR1 1UF

Curated by Sunderland-born artist, Frank Styles, this Wearside mural takes centre stage on the High Street in Sunniside. This piece is one of Frank’s earliest murals, which has left an impression on all of the locals since its appearance back in 2016. After studying art at Sunderland University and graduating in 2007, Frank has been leaving his mark all over the city with his work nestled in every crook. He is an artist celebrated by the locals and now taking residence in a studio above the Pigment and Toil Gallery in the Bridges Shopping Centre, Frank continues to spread colour on the streets of the city.

The Siren

Church Way, North Shields, NE29 0AE, UK

Another piece created by local artist Peter Manning, this mural takes centre stage on the wall of the ex-pub, The Old Hundred in North Shields. This piece of art reflects his fascination with portraiture and the female form, depicting this with monochrome details. The mural, titled “The Siren,” serves as an allegorical homage to the town’s history and the courageous women who played a vital role in supporting the fishing industry. As a local lad himself, this piece is situated close to the church where his parents got married and adds dimension to the fishing town of North Shields.

Old George alleyway

Old George Alleyway, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 1EZ

Seen as part of a wider improvement to the Bigg Market in Newcastle City Centre, are a pair of murals featuring work from both James Dixon and Yvette Earl. Taking pride of place in the heart of the city, these pieces are situated in the alleyway that leads to the famous Old George pub. Highlighting references to locally born businesses and the history of the city, the two artists have depicted their take on the city’s life and how it has presented itself over the years. Adding brightness to a dark spot running off the Groat Market, this piece of street art guides people nicely to the city’s oldest pub.

From the heart of the city of Newcastle, right out to the coastal fishing town of North Shields, street art can be found on a whole host of street corners and building sides.

With local artists like Alex Mulholland and Peter Manning contributing to the city’s vibrancy, there is plenty of colour and designs to feast your eyes on.

This demonstrates that art doesn’t have to be confined to the walls of The Baltic or Laing Art Gallery, it can be out in the wild and still be appreciated just as much by the proud locals.

We hope you enjoy exploring these stunning street art selections. If you have any recommendations, feel free to share them in the comments below.

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