Client:
Eastleigh Borough Council
Date:
January 2026
The Railway Swan mural is the first in a series of murals developed in partnership with Eastleigh Borough Council to reimagine public realm spaces in Eastleigh town centre.
The project began with a series of site visits, during which I conducted visual research into the surrounding area. The key themes that emerged were the town’s industrial heritage, particularly its proud history of trains and planes.
The mural itself offers a contemporary interpretation of these historic references, looking to the future while breathing new life into the visual language of the past. It includes a nod to the Supermarine Spitfire, which made its maiden flight from Eastleigh in 1936, alongside the tail section of a Horsa glider, around 200 of which were produced in the town. There are also various elements of railway and locomotive paraphernalia, as well as architectural references to the iconic Eastleigh Works.
The image of the swan emerged directly from a community engagement workshop with the local students from Barton Peveril Sixth Form College, many of whom associate swans with Eastleigh.
The mural playfully engages with the surrounding architecture, incorporating existing features of the site to strengthen the overall composition.