Sunderland set to welcome new landmark with eye-catching Sunniside mural

With fonts inspired by long gone Sunderland institutions such as Binns and Jopling’s, a new landmark mural is fast taking shape.

The new mural is taking over the gable end of 170 High Street West, on the side of the Sunshine Co-operative, and is set to serve as a colourful welcome to the burgeoning area of Sunniside.

Tyne & Wear Building Preservation Trust, who own the buildings, applied for planning permission for the artwork earlier this year, saying the street art aims “to make the gateway to Sunniside more inviting to the public and highlight the activity that is bustling within the area.”

A supporting planning statement said the Sunniside area currently goes unnoticed to passersby from nearby Sans Street.

It adds: “By introducing the artwork to the currently underwhelming gateway, it will instead celebrate the regeneration progress that has been made over the recent years, promote awareness of the area’s offerings, and encourage increased footfall to support local businesses.”

Artists Dave Bain and Hannah Worsley were commissioned to design and create the piece, and they’ve been busy bringing it to life all this week.

All going to plan, you should be able to see the finished mural this Sunday, July 5.

As well as vibrant colours and a variety of images and shapes, it includes the words “on the Sunniside of the street”.

Another recent new artwork in Sunniside is a colourful piece in the beer garden at the back of Pop Recs by Frank Styles, an abstract piece depicting a sunrise and the sails of a ship.

Frank created the piece as part of the recent Sunnside Nights event, with a live mural painting that people could watch.