Bus stops across Teesside are being given a colourful makeover this summer, with children and families picking up paintbrushes as part of a community art project.
The Summer Bus Stop Series, in Stockton town centre, is turning ordinary bus shelters into vibrant displays celebrating Stockton's history, businesses and community spirit.
Led by local creative organisations Woolywoodshop and Creative Chaos CIC, the project invites people of all ages to help paint large-scale artworks.
Behind the project is artist Sophie Roberts with Woolywoodshop, who says the idea grew from years spent volunteering in care homes and residential homes, painting festive murals to brighten residents' days.
The inspiration for the bus stops came after she opened a shop on Norton Road and found herself looking at the shelter opposite.
"I was looking at the bus stop opposite my shop and decided it was pretty boring and said I was going to go and paint it," she said.
After contacting Stockton Council for permission, Sophie painted a series of bus stops over Christmas, before developing the idea into a larger community project for the summer.
Now, while Sophie sketches the designs, much of the painting is being completed by local children and families.
"The main part of it is that people have ownership and pride in what's being created," she said.
"We've based it so people don't need talent or previous experience to be able to come and do it. It's there for everyone."
The project aims to make art more accessible by removing many of the barriers that can put people off getting involved.
Sophie encourages participants to paint freely, reassuring nervous first-timers that it does not matter if they paint outside the lines.
Viewed from outside, the bus stops display bold, detailed scenes.
But from inside the shelter, the preserved brushstrokes create a stained-glass effect when sunlight shines through, highlighting the contributions made by local children.
Sophie said: "It's a completely different painting on the inside as it is on the outside."
The initiative has attracted support from residents of all ages, with children, families, childminders and even curious passers-by invited to pick up a paintbrush and get involved.
Organisers say the project is about far more than decorating bus stops.
Sophie recently registered Creative Chaos as a community interest company (CIC), allowing the organisation to pursue funding for future projects designed to make arts activities more accessible.
Alongside the bus stop artwork, the group runs affordable workshops throughout the summer, with some sessions costing as little as £1 and additional quiet sessions available for people who prefer calmer environments.
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The success of the project has already sparked discussions about expanding the idea beyond Stockton, with hopes community-led artwork could help reduce vandalism and give young people a greater sense of ownership over public spaces.
Sophie said: "It's not here for you to look at it, it's here for you to do. We're not performing for you, we're painting with you."
And as more colourful creations appear across the town centre over the coming weeks, Stockton's bus stops are becoming much more than places to catch a bus, they're becoming community canvases.
For more information on how to get involved with the community art project, or to book sessions with Woolywoodshop, visit their Facebook page.
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