NE1's Giant Pavement Masterpiece Takes Shape on Newcastle's Quayside
NE1’s annual transformation of Newcastle’s Quayside is complete and ready for the summer. A 90 metre hand-painted mural, believed to be the largest piece of temporary street art in the UK, has been installed on a prominent stretch of the Quayside next to Wesley Square.
The massive mural has been a signature summertime addition to the Quayside for the past four years, transforming a former bus lane into a work of street art.
This year’s mural has been designed and installed by international visual artists, HalfStudio, AKA Portuguese graphic artists Mariana Branco and Emanuel Barreira, and features vibrant colours and a striking message.
The 90 metre x 6 metre artwork was installed in time for NE1’s Summer in the City activity programme, which began on Monday 21st July, and features more than 75 free activities.
The artwork provides a colourful backdrop for these activities, together with many prominent events held on the Quayside in the coming months, including the Red Bull Tyne Ride and the Great North Run.
Each year, NE1 commissions a new artist to transform the space, to add extra vibrancy to the riverside and something new to complement the area’s iconic scenery and NE1’s events and activities. In previous years, prominent artists Oflines from Holland, and Sheffield’s Andy Welland have transformed the area, as well as local North East favourite Mul.
NE1 is delighted with this year’s chosen artists and the impressive artwork they have created. Commenting on the mural, Louise Debnam, Placemaking Project Manager at NE1 said: “2025 is the first year I have worked with the team to deliver this project, and I’m thrilled to have helped create such a bold and vibrant addition to the iconic Quayside. Working with international artists like HalfStudio demonstrates how Newcastle can stand toe-to-toe with other cosmopolitan cities with its bold and ambitious creative installations.
There were lots of interesting submissions, but ‘Go with the flow’ was chosen because it is very appropriate for the site. The spirit of moving forward is a strong sentiment that we’re passionate about at NE1.
It’s been a pleasure working with the team at HalfStudio, UNIT44, and The London Mural Company, and with businesses in the area, without whose support this wouldn’t be possible.”
Artists HalfStudio, who created the design, explained: “This floor mural draws inspiration from the movement of the River Tyne and the energy of Newcastle’s ever-evolving identity. The bold typography flows across the Quayside like a current, surrounded by dynamic colour fields and rhythmic wave forms. Echoing the city’s bridges and industrial past, the design reflects a sense of motion, adaptability, and the spirit of going forward together.
“It’s been great to spend time in Newcastle while working on this piece. There’s a real energy to the Quayside, and people have been so warm and curious throughout the process. That spirit really fed into the work. We wanted to create something that feels rooted in the city, something that moves with it rather than just sitting in place. The River Tyne, the bridges, the rhythm of the area all shaped the mural. It’s about flow, change, and how Newcastle keeps moving forward together.”
Newcastle-based art curators UNIT44 have worked with NE1 for the past four years to commission and install the murals, Danny Hughes, Curator Director at UNIT44 said: “It has been truly amazing to curate these Quayside installs, to partner with The London Mural Company, and to return year after year with a different take on the space. HalfStudio have been on our radar for some time, and to finally be able to collaborate on this typographical chapter of the Wesley Square chronicles fills me with joy. It’s the first time we’ve been so bold and literal with the messaging, and "go with the flow” fits perfectly as the river winds through this part of the city. Words can transcend art, and can be easier to grasp in their placement, allowing the viewer to project their own meaning, taking home something personal and unique. Be it people on their commute, exercising, or simply enjoying the city, the sentiment changes with the context. And that’s beautiful.”
