Two new murals celebrating Stoke-on-Trent’s ceramic history and the creative potential of bamboo have been created in the city. The Brilliant Botanicals murals – a project by creative organisation Brilliant Bamboo – can be found at prominent locations in Stoke town.
The first mural, created by graphic artist Rob Fenton, can be found on Tiger Bite’s building on the corner of Liverpool Road and Elenora Street. Inspired by traditional botanical surface pattern designs and the Japanese art of kintsugi – where broken ceramics are repaired with lacquer and precious metals – the piece also reflects Stoke-on-Trent’s geography, with gold repair lines mirroring the city’s road network.
To develop his design, Rob explored historic pattern books in the Spode Museum archives, close to the site of the mural, drawing particular inspiration from Chinoiserie patterns of the 1780s.
Rob said: “I am thrilled to be working with Brilliant Bamboo on bringing my ceramics-inspired mural to life in Stoke town. This project is incredibly special to me, as it celebrates the rich heritage of Spode while adding a vibrant, artistic touch to the community.
“Collaborating with Brilliant Bamboo has been an inspiring experience — they share my passion for creativity and sustainability, making this partnership even more meaningful. I can’t wait to see the mural become a lasting tribute to Stoke’s incredible history of craftsmanship.”
The second mural, created by ceramicist Reiko Kaneko, is located on the canal side off Vernon Road and features a large-scale bamboo design. Known for incorporating bamboo-inspired motifs into her work, this is Reiko’s first piece of public art.
A lecturer on the MA Ceramics course at Staffordshire University, she even crafted her own brushes from bamboo for the project.
She said: “When I was asked to create a mural in Stoke-on-Trent, I almost passed it up. I’d never painted on such a large scale, but the brief – taking inspiration from bamboo – sparked my imagination.
“My idea was a gold-infused design, inspired by Japanese room dividers like the one I grew up with. At first, I wondered if it would resonate locally, but Stoke has a history of exporting fine china wares with intricate patterns and gold to all four corners of the globe. And now, this gold painting will stay in town, to celebrate not just bamboo but also the people past and present who have worked in the pottery industry.”
Gemma Thomas, director of Brilliant Bamboo, said: “Bamboo has featured in a lot of surface pattern design over the years, including designs by Spode, Wedgwood and many smaller manufacturers.
“We wanted to celebrate the link between the ceramic industry and bamboo in two prominent gateway sites in Stoke town, and offer residents and visitors a fresh perspective on the city’s artistic and industrial heritage. It’s also about the connection to people all over the world through our ceramics, which are used and enjoyed globally.”
The murals have been created with the support of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, the Canal and River Trust and Hanley-based Mode Architects. They form part of the city council’s Stoke High Street Accelerator Green Space Project, with funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Press release by Hannah Hiles for Brilliant Bamboo.
