Leeds artist makes emotional return to Kirkgate Market to restore mural close to his heart

A Leeds artist has returned to Kirkgate Market to restore a mural he describes as one of the most meaningful pieces of his career.

Nicolas Dixon was commissioned by Leeds City Council to create the artwork, titled Changes Upon Us, in 2016 as part of the market’s redevelopment.

The mural, which resides in the food hall, features a large owl surrounded by 29 stars representing the districts of Leeds. Its colourful geometric shapes also contain symbolism linked to the market and its history.

Now, 10 years on, Nicolas has been brought back to give the artwork a refresh after the lower half suffered wear and tear from years of activity in the busy food hall.

He told the Yorkshire Evening Post: “It’s been 10 years, so it’s taken a bit of a hammering. The bottom half was in a bit of a state.

“But unbelievably, because there’s no direct sunlight in here, it’s hardly faded at all. The colours have matched perfectly.”

Nicolas has spent several days sanding back chipped areas and repainting sections of the mural, with the restoration expected to take around 30 plus hours in total.

Once completed, the council will install a protective Perspex cover to help preserve the artwork for years to come.

The artist said returning to the market had also been a chance to reflect on his own journey, describing the commission as the first major public art project he completed in his home city.

He said: “It is such an important mural to me because it was the first big public art I’d done in Leeds.

“It has been a catalyst in my life as an artist and has done a great deal to propel that, so I’m really pleased they’ve decided to get me in to restore it.”

The restoration has also brought back memories of his family’s connection to the market and the surrounding area.

Nicolas recalled stories told by his grandfather, who played piano in a band at the Griffin Hotel in Leeds during the Second World War.

The band regularly performed on Saturdays before making their way to a pub on York Road, close to Kirkgate Market. Nicolas explained that the pub was later directly hit during a bombing raid on Leeds, which his grandfather narrowly avoided by just a few hours.

He said this family history made the commission particularly special, adding: “I definitely have a historical attachment through my family, so it means a lot to me and makes me proud to have such a big artwork in the middle of the market.”

Nicolas also praised the market’s atmosphere, saying it was lovely to see how vibrant and busy it had become since the mural was first installed.

During today’s restoration, he spoke to students from Leeds Arts University who told him they had been studying his work as part of their coursework.

He told the YEP: “It’s always nice to speak to the next generation of artists and offer some insight into my work.

“It’s been a great experience and a great trip down memory lane.”