Severn Arts, in partnership with the West Mercia Youth Justice Service and funded by the Worcestershire County Council Youth Innovation Fund, commissioned visual artist Dermot Clarke to work with young people supported by the service to transform the indoor and outdoor walls of the Tolladine Road Youth Justice Centre in Worcester. 

Creating a welcoming space 

Before the project, young people described the Centre as "unfriendly" and "like a prison". The murals have created a new environment for the office by adding colour and life to the building and presenting a welcoming feel for the young people. 

Dermot said: "It starts with hope, it focuses on the Rubix Cube concept and then just explodes with positivity. I'm really happy with it."

Kerry Plant, Youth Justice Officer, said: "Just initially approaching the building is going to put you at ease, and kind of make you smile a little bit, creating that warmer, more welcoming environment, and then obviously the inside room, which is the one we use the majority of the time, is quite soft, friendly and calm, and that will help us with our work. So I think long term, it's going to have a massively positive effect."

Ownership and creativity 

The young people were right at the heart of the design process. They helped shape the artist brief, created mood boards and participated in the shortlisting and interviewing of artists  for the commission. 

Through three creative workshops, Dermot encouraged the young people to take ownership of the project and build confidence in their creativity.  He allowed the young people to draw whatever they wanted, from Minecraft characters to gym equipment, and then was able to lift features and symbols from these workshops and use them in the main design. 

One participant said: "I did not think I would be any good at art, but I have surprised myself. I want to continue with creating my own clothing brand artwork."

The murals were unveiled in August 2025.

The short video below details the mural's creation and features interviews with artist Dermot Clarke, and representatives Severn Arts and West Mercia Youth Service who helped bring the project to life.