Bringing Colour to the Moor: Artist Florence Blanchard and Friends of Sheffield City Centre Transform Neglected Thoroughfare into a Vibrant Landmark
Sheffield, UK – July 2025 — This summer, a grey corner of Sheffield city centre is getting a bold new identity. Thanks to a creative partnership between Florence Blanchard, a renowned Sheffield-based mural artist and the Friends of Sheffield City Centre (FoSCC), the once-overlooked side wall of Atkinsons on Holy Green will become a striking, 150-square-metre mural’s celebrating the area’s past, present, and future.
The project, funded by Sheffield City Council’s Councillors and Akinsons of Sheffield and supported by Amey, is the latest in a series of grassroots initiatives led by FoSCC to improve the city centre through beautification, public art, and community care. Following the success of last year’s mural by the same artist, which was credited with brightening the area, increasing footfall, and creating a new focal point for The Moor, this new artwork aims to bring a burst of colour, curiosity, and joy to a dull and neglected corner of the city. FoSCC have also installed (with the help of Sheffield City Council) four large, vibrant planters echoing the artwork’s colours, reinforcing the project’s mission to transform this dull corner of the city into something lively and welcoming.
“This project is about reclaiming run down spaces and turning them into something people want to walk through, look at, and feel proud of,” said Bridget Ingle. “It’s what Friends of Sheffield City Centre is all about: bringing people together to care for our city in all sorts of ways, from litter picking to art.”
Science, Colour, and Local Roots
Florence Blanchard, who trained as a scientist before turning full-time to mural work, has brought her distinctive blend of abstract shapes, bold palettes, and visual rhythm to cities around the world but Sheffield has long been home.
“Sheffield gave me my first real connection to public art as a community force,” said Blanchard. “I’ve painted here for over a decade, and this mural feels special. It’s about colour and science, yes, but also about storytelling, regeneration, and how art can completely shift the energy of a place.”
The new mural draws inspiration from the rich (and little-known) history of Holy Green, once the site of an educational academy run by John Hessay Abraham—Principal of the Milk Street Academy and Fellow of the Royal Society. Later, the space became a girls’ school, filled with balsam-scented walks, poetic eccentric teachers, and local cultural life. Florence’s design blends references to this heritage with vibrant, abstract forms that nod to both science and imagination—infusing the alley with brightness and playful energy.
Community-Driven Transformation
This collaboration is a testament to the power of community-led action. While Florence brings international artistic experience, Bridget leads a team of volunteers who quietly and consistently improve Sheffield’s urban fabric through initiatives ranging from planting and tidying to organising ambitious projects like this one. Together, they share a drive to make the best out of every situation
Follow the progress:
@florenceblanchardart | #HolyGreenMural | #BrightenTheMoor
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About Florence Blanchard
Florence Blanchard is a Franco British, Sheffield-based mural artist and former molecular biology researcher with a penchant for microscopy. Her vibrant public artworks explore the intersection between science and visual abstraction and can be seen on walls from New York to Paris to Sheffield.
About Friends of Sheffield City Centre
Founded by Bridget Ingle, Friends of Sheffield City Centre is a grassroots volunteer group dedicated to caring for and enhancing the city centre. Their initiatives include litter picking, planting, street cleaning, and art-led regeneration projects that bring pride and energy to public spaces.