Basildon station's new mural, unveiled on 2 October, was designed from Youth Council ideas and features Depeche Mode, seaxes, theatre and ten-pin bowling.

Basildon station has a new mural at its main entrance, and young people from the borough chose what went on it.

It was officially launched on Thursday 2 October. Richard Holden, MP for Basildon and Billericay, and the Mayor of Basildon, Sam Journet, attended. The details come from c2c’s announcement of 5 October.

What is on the wall

The artwork is by local artist Dave “HATCH” Smith. He worked from ideas that came out of workshops with Basildon Borough Youth Council over the summer.

It is painted in turquoise and magenta in a collage style. c2c lists the local references it includes:

  • the railway station itself
  • Essex seaxes
  • the town’s theatre scene
  • ten-pin bowling
  • Depeche Mode, which c2c calls an “iconic local band”

The photographs c2c published also show a “Welcome to Fabulous Basildon, Essex” sign, the date 1949 and the Youth Council’s initials, BBYC, across the top.

The full mural on the curved brick wall at Basildon station's entrance, in turquoise, blue and pink, showing a 'Welcome to Fabulous Basildon Essex' sign, 'Est 1949', the letters BBYC, theatre masks, a train, bowling pins and a teapot, with a group standing in front.
The mural on the curved wall by the station entrance. Photo: supplied by c2c

Who paid for it and why

The project was a partnership between c2c, Creative Basildon, Basildon Borough Youth Council and the Community Rail Network. c2c is now part of GBR Anglia, which brings c2c, Greater Anglia and Network Rail Anglia under one leadership team.

Mr Holden thanked the Youth Council, c2c and the artist for “adding a real vibrancy to the town centre”.

Sammy Oxford, deputy director of Creative Basildon, said the point was more than decoration: “Yes, it brightens up the space, but it also puts people’s voices directly onto the wall and into the public sphere.”

The artist said he took all the Youth Council’s ideas back to the studio, “jumbled it all together, took out the interesting bits”, and that painting it “was a blast”.

Part of the town centre plan

The mural was one of the smaller items in the council’s town centre programme. Its September regeneration update listed a station mural co-designed with the Youth Council, alongside lighting and Make Space for Girls installations in Town Square and Gloucester Park. We covered that update in Basildon’s regeneration plans for September.

It is also the second new c2c mural in the borough this year. In April, c2c and Essex Wildlife Trust unveiled a rabbit mural at Laindon station. It is based on a prize-winning wildlife photograph and points passengers to Langdon Nature Discovery Park.

What it means for you

  • Where to see it: on the curved brick wall beside the main entrance to Basildon station. You do not need a ticket.
  • The making of it: c2c has published a short film of the mural’s design, painting and launch on its announcement page.
  • The Laindon one: Essex Wildlife Trust said in April that free guided wellbeing walks with Basildon Mind run at Langdon Nature Discovery Park on the fourth Saturday of each month at 10am. Check with the trust before you go.
  • Getting there by train: times and fares from Basildon, Laindon and Pitsea are on our Basildon train times page.