Giant owls take flight in Leeds’ newest underpass mural at Penny Pocket Park
Internationally acclaimed artist Cbloxx has transformed a historic Leeds railway viaduct into a mythological sanctuary
The walk through Penny Pocket Park has traditionally been a functional affair; a quick route past the Minster defined by the rumble of the railway overhead.
But the city’s newest piece of public art is demanding that passers-by slow their pace.
A transformative mural has been unveiled within the Church Walk viaduct, replacing the industrial grey of the railway tracks with a sprawling reimagining of the Leeds landscape.
At its heart are two giant owls that appear to take flight across the brickwork, acting as mythological guardians for a space that has long been hidden in the shadow of the transit lines.
Designed and painted by the internationally recognised, Yorkshire-born artist Cbloxx, also known as Jay Gilleard, the mural serves as a vibrant gateway between the city’s urban bustle and its natural undercurrents.
Underwater scenes ripple across the walls as a tribute to the River Aire flowing nearby, while a carved face emerging from a rock wall anchors the piece in something ancient and grounded.
As Jay explains: “This work looks at how something older still exists beneath the surface of the city - how landscape, mythology and memory continue to shape how we move through space, even when we no longer see them.”
This sense of ‘hidden history’ is particularly resonant given that the park sits on the original graveyard of the Leeds Parish Church; when the railway line was cut through the area in the 1860s, the headstones were carefully lifted and re-laid on the slopes of the newly created incline, where they remain to this day beneath a century of soil and greenery.
The mural acknowledges this literal layering of time, bridging the gap between the spirits of the past and the everyday commuters of the present.
The revitalisation of the park has been a deeply collaborative project, with the community interest company Getting Clean providing the essential groundwork.
The group, which offers peer support to those in addiction recovery, has been instrumental in preparing the site through cleaning and planting, ensuring that the mural is surrounded by a space that feels cared for and inclusive.
Supported by a partnership including Leeds City Council, Groundwork Yorkshire, Wade’s Charity, and the Leeds Civic Trust, the project is just the beginning of a longer-term vision to improve seating, lighting, and landscaping, turning this historic corner of Leeds into a true city-centre sanctuary.