Lewis specialises in large scale murals, community engagement, workshops and project management.
Lewis’ focus is on creating an arts scene in County Durham that is representative of it’s diverse culture, tailored specifically to the challenges faced and not made in the image of work done in cities like London, Manchester or even Newcastle.
The History of Durham Spray Paints
November 2020 - First large mural
While working as a carer for adults with autism during the pandemic, Lewis painted his first large murals. These works were on abandoned buildings and were a huge source of joy during the pandemic.
Summer 2021 - Hartlepool Headland
In summer of 2021 Lewis stopped pursuing a career in healthcare to focus on mural work. He started to paint murals on the Hartlepool Headland, these would form a series of ten murals that would become nationally recognised.
2021 onwards - Commercial murals
Lewis painted many commercial murals over the next year, working with large organisations and painting some of the regions biggest murals. He began to focus work more on community outcomes working with smaller organisations in areas of deprivation across the north.
2022 - Legal walls
Lewis began to establish ‘legal walls’: spaces that have previously attracted graffiti that are handed over to the artists in order to improve the quality of the work and the connection to the community. This work continues now in partnership with Durham County Council.
2023 - Spennymoor Mural Festival
Lewis delivered a huge amount of workshops and murals that involve the community, eventually leading to him setting up the regions first mural festival in 2023. The first mural festival was a huge success, which has lead to Arts Council funding for the second year and sponsorship from montana cans.
2024 - CYAN CIC established
Lewis established an artist agency: Call Yourself An Artist CIC. The focus is on being a middle person between artists, large organisations and the communities they serve.
2024 - The Durham Ice Rink Project
Lewis has recently curated his first museum exhibition based on the history of Durham Ice Rink, this involved recording oral histories, gallery curation, culminating in the discovery of lost artifacts and collaborating with the DLI museum, The Story, Durham Sixth Form Centre.
Spennymoor Mural Festival 2023
Workshop facilitation
Hartlepool Headlands
Legal Walls Project
The Durham Ice Rink Project
How to work with Lewis
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Murals
Lewis creates murals that involve the community in the design and production, as well as large scale commercial works for businesses and brands
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Workshops + Talks
Lewis delivers workshops and talks on art and creativity to schools, community groups and organisations.
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Project Management
Lewis has become known for organising Spennymoor Mural Festival - the first of it’s kind in the North East. He uses this experience to offer consultancy in event management