New artwork launched at Dugdale Arts Centre in Enfield Town

The mural was created by London artist Alec Saunders, using unwanted paint that was dropped off by residents at North London Waste Authority’s (NLWA) eight waste and recycling centres.Following an open call, Alec was selected out of nearly 50 applications based on his thoughtful proposal for genuine community engagement, experience of sustainable art practices, and visually impactful style.The final design celebrates the rich and diverse cultures of Enfield, reflecting the unique identities, histories, and communities that make up the borough. Interwoven into three striking portraits, iconography representing Enfield's proud music legacy, industrial heritage and green spaces can be seen.The new artwork envelopes a tiered seating area at DAC which is used for children’s activities, arts and craft workshops, film screenings, and some live performances.

The launch event included a Q&A with artists Alec, Leanne Ingram and Chikaora Obiora, who were commissioned with Laura McKendry to create three smaller murals inspired by DAC around the arts centre. Guests also enjoyed a drop-in collage workshop, exhibition displaying artwork by all three artists, and stalls selling local sustainable products.

Alec ran three in-person workshops to actively engage with residents and community groups including pupils from St Anne’s Catholic High School for Girls and young people from Ponders End Youth Centre to ensure the artwork truly resonates with the whole borough.

By using reclaimed paint, the mural is environmentally friendly and will help contribute to the artwork’s sense of connection with the local community, from whom the paint was sourced. More than 50 million litres of unused paint is wasted each year in the UK – enough to fill 20 Olympic swimming pools – which unnecessarily goes to incineration or landfill when it could easily be used for other projects.

Enfield Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Action and Placemaking at Enfield Council, Cllr Sabri Ozaydin, said: “I was delighted to meet Alec and to officially launch his fantastic artwork at the DAC. His creativity and expertise has made our amphitheatre space brighter and more inviting for visitors and truly represents the diversity and energy of Enfield.

“I would like to thank the North London Waste Authority for providing funding and for donating the reclaimed paint Alec has used to create his magnificent artwork. This was a truly cooperative project that involved local people and schools and at its heart has an important message about reusing and recycling which this Council wholeheartedly supports.”

The project was funded and delivered via the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) with sponsorship and paint provided for free by the NLWA. The NLWA has been charting the progress of the mural and community workshops to raise awareness and encouraging Enfield’s residents to recycle their old paint and opt for reclaimed paint instead of buying new.

Chair of NLWA, Clyde Loakes, said: “Seeing discarded paint used in such beautiful artwork shows that you only need a little bit of creativity to make second-hand items look brand new.”

For further information about DAC visit: https://www.dugdaleartscentre.co.uk/

Cllr Sabri Ozaydin, Cabinet Member for Climate Action and Placemaking at Enfield Council (left), officially opens the new artwork with local artist Alec Saunders.

Local artist Alec Saunders answers questions from the audience about the inspiration behind his artwork at the DAC.

 DAC

•Dugdale Arts Centre (DAC) serves as the borough’s cultural hub, offering an array of artistic and educational opportunities while fostering community engagement

•The DAC team actively works with local schools, community groups, and organisations to provide access to arts and culture for all

•DAC provides workshops, classes, and youth programmes aimed at nurturing local talent and fostering creativity.

Alec Saunders

•Alec is an award-winning artist, trained art therapist and head of art at a primary school

•His practice and teaching are motivated by the importance of representation and its ability to instill a sense of place within communities

•Alec has over a decade of experience leading workshops and has worked in schools, town centres and in partnership with charities including Show Racism the Red Card.