These two large-scale murals by artists Kev Munday and Stuart Melrose - Royals, Residents & a Rock Festival and Rivers, Ruins & Regency - form a colourful and animated tribute to the people and stories that define Reading.

Located at Station Hill and Friars Walk, the murals combine vibrant illustrations, community voices, and cutting-edge LED lighting to celebrate Reading’s rich heritage and contemporary identity. Developed through over 30 workshops in schools and colleges across the town, the artworks feature figures nominated by residents - from Kate Winslet and Ricky Gervais to Phoebe Cusden and local scientist Dr. Ethelwynn Trewavas.

The murals’ materiality is as innovative as their storytelling: crafted from laser-cut aluminium with HIMACS backdrops and animated LED systems that shift with the seasons, they offer a dynamic visual experience that evolves throughout the year.

Each mural acts as a living archive - highlighting icons of Reading’s past, nodding to its industrial and cultural achievements, and embracing the people shaping its present and future. The participatory process ensured deep community involvement, with over 100 local groups consulted and dozens of young people contributing drawings and ideas.

Photography from Altay Dogahan, Redwood Consulting, Adrian Lambert, and Andy Stagg