Two Sheffield artists have co-founded a street art festival which is launching this year and will include opportunities for local artists to work on murals in the city.

Co-founders of the Lick of Paint Fest, Megan Russel, 31, also known as Peachzz and Alastair Flindall, 33, are determined to “bring arts back to the forefront of Sheffield.”

Both artists are keen to share their expertise with local artists who want to break into the industry.

“I don’t think I’d be where I am without the people who shared information with me,” said Megan. “Sharing is important to me, if it was all kept a secret, there would be no development in the art scene and everything would come to a standstill.”

Her mural Reverie, which overlooks Pound’s Park in Sheffield city centre, won runner up in the Street Art Cities ‘Best Mural in the World’ competition for 2024.

“The experience was overwhelmingly positive,” she said. “It was so exciting. Everyone’s buzzing now, it feels like the perfect time for the festival.”

The festival dates have not been confirmed yet, but will span over the course of a weekend. There will be a range of activities, including:

• Workshops, where people have the chance to get involved creating a mural
• Drawing sessions 
• Film screenings showcasing Sheffield’s rich street art history
• Cycling and walking tours
• Pop-up events 

The events will take place in and around the city-centre including: Fitzalan Square, Castlegate, Wicker, Five Weirs Walk and Kelham Island. 

Community is at the heart of this project, and Megan and Alastair want to ensure that local artists are equipped with key knowledge and resources that will help them produce high quality art.

There will be applications sent out before the festival which artists can apply to, giving them the opportunity to work on permanent pieces that will add to the legacy of Sheffield’s art scene.  

Megan and Alastair want the festival to be accessible for as many people as possible. All of the events will be free, but will be ticketed to ensure there is enough space. 

The workshops will have accessible options for people in wheelchairs who may not be able to go high up.  

“Their design could be painted by someone else, we can find walls that are more accessible, and they will be given more time to paint than those who are more able-bodied,” said Alastair.

“We want the festival to be a stepping stone, rather than a barrier,” says Megan.

There will be partnerships with different community projects, like the Children’s Hospital, Art+ programme, The Becton Centre for Children and Young People and ArtWorks South Yorkshire. 

ArtWorks South Yorkshire supports adults with learning difficulties and autism to thrive as artists and collaborators. They have creative studios in Sheffield, Barnsley, and Rotherham and produce murals, exhibitions, films and zines.

“We’re thrilled to be working with Lick of Paint, a first-class festival that actively champions our artists who are autistic, have a learning disability, or both,” said Kayleigh Cruickshank, the founder of ArtWorks. “Their commitment to inclusivity and breaking down barriers in the arts is truly inspiring.”

Some of the workshops will focus on the use of technology, like augmented reality and projections, which will create conversations about how artists can make their practices more sustainable. 

At the festival, Megan and Alastair will also share their advice on how to apply for a community project, how to upscale your artwork and share key business skills. 

Alastair, who is an ex-teacher, said that he learns so much from teaching people.

“By sharing and bringing each other up together, there’s more work for everyone because the more people see the art, the more they’re going to want to have it,” he said.

Both Megan and Alastair have been building up partnerships for the last year and a half and have gained support from the public, Sheffield Hallam University and Sheffield City Council. 

Alastair said that places like Bristol and Birmingham have huge spaces where people can paint legally. 

“There’s so many wall spaces in Sheffield, it’s a no-brainer to have a festival here.”