By Olivia Grist

Three young artists’ work has been given a permanent home in Cardiff’s Capitol Shopping Centre, after their murals were mistakenly washed away last year.  

The art, which covered 11 concrete pillars around the former Debenhams store in the city centre, was painted by three female artists – Turner Prize nominee Beth Blandford, Amber Forde, and Temeka Davies – who are involved in the PWSH project. 

The installation, which was again commissioned by FOR Cardiff, began in April and was completed last week. The lead artists were supported by a small team of freelance creatives and young people from the ACT training programme, who were also supported to create their own artwork throughout the week.  

Swansea University student, Temeka Davies, said: “This time creating the artwork was different in so many ways, as I already had some experience and knew what public art and my art meant to the public.  

“Also, getting to meet the young adults of ACT and teaching them to work on self-portraits and identity was another amazing experience for me as an artist.” 

The PWSH project was created to enable visual artists with a Cardiff connection to decorate their city centre with artwork that celebrates and represents a breadth of local creative talent and diversity – on large public canvasses. PWSH is an ongoing and ever-evolving project, with long-term artwork on show within the city.  

PWSH Creator Rachel Kinchin, said: “We were blown away by people’s incredible reaction to our project.  

“Many have commented that the artwork has brought joy to their day, improved their mental health and encouraged them to explore their own creativity again.  

When we lost the ‘Minsky’s Pillars’ artwork, we were all devastated – but the public reaction was so supportive that we knew we had to re-create these pieces by Beth, Amber and Temeka in some way, shape or form.” 

FOR Cardiff Executive Director Adrian Field said: “We’re thrilled to have re-commissioned the PWSH street art project and to see it come to life now in the Capitol Centre.  

“Working with such an array of talented local artists has been and continues to be a pleasure.  

“PWSH is just one of many arts and culture initiatives we will fund and deliver over the coming years as we progress with our plans to centre culture in city centre life.”