Keira Walsh Mural

Meet Katie Scott, the artist behind the Keira Walsh mural.  

Continuing its rich tradition of murals, Rochdale has recently welcomed a new piece of art in the town centre featuring the borough’s very own lioness, Keira Walsh.  

Contributing to the borough's distinctive identity this latest addition aligns with the goal of making Rochdale a more lively and colourful place in conjunction with a packed and growing cultural event calendar.

Katie Scott is a Manchester-based mural artist known for her vibrant and impactful street art. With a background in illustration and a passion for large-scale public art, she inspires communities and transforms spaces with colour and creativity.  We spoke with Katie about her background, journey and passion for mural art.

Katie has always been creative, studying illustration at the University of Norwich. However, it wasn't until the COVID lockdown that she began to take her work seriously, learning to spray paint and discovering the world of street art and murals. In 2022, she moved to Manchester and has been painting murals across the country ever since.

Katie's passion for creating murals stems from her love of painting on a large scale, which allows for more detail and impact. "Painting murals gives the public a chance to interact with the art. It's there for everyone to enjoy and take different experiences from," she explains. Influenced by pop art, Katie loves colour, which is a crucial element in her work, helping to brighten up big spaces.

"I was excited to paint such an inspirational person, especially in her hometown. It's a well-deserved celebration of Keira's success and gives the next generation someone to look up to," said Katie.

Katie had a fantastic time bringing the mural to life. "Passers-by have all been very welcoming, stopping for chats and loving the vibrancy of the mural. It's nice to know people of all ages are enjoying the work," she shared.

Transforming buildings with large-scale art is important. Katie believes murals can significantly impact the environment, transforming spaces from unnoticed and drab to fantastic, bright, and welcoming. "People will be passing the artwork every day, so it's always important to consider the public and what will have a positive effect," she emphasised.

Although not a huge football fan, Katie plans to catch some of the Euros action. Looking ahead, she has a busy summer planned. Her next big project is in Stockport, where she will create a 15-meter-high mural of beautiful nature as part of their second-phase street art trail.

The murals around the town centre have significantly contributed to Rochdale's sense of identity. This new mural specifically aims to inspire local youth, especially girls in football, by showcasing a local success story and championing diversity in the borough. It underscores Rochdale as a fantastic place for everyone to live, work and play.

The mural was funded by the council’s Rochdale North Township Committee and supported by Rochdale’s Cultural Development Fund. It is part of ‘Rochdale Creates,’ a new cross-sector initiative to drive and promote creative and cultural activity across the borough.