09 Jul 2026
Art students from The Marlborough Science Academy (TMSA) have unveiled a powerful new mural created in collaboration with St Albans Cathedral and renowned graffiti artist Ant Steel.
The project was inspired by last year’s Cathedral exhibition focusing on the Bogside Artists’ murals from Northern Ireland, which explored the themes of conflict, peace and resolution.
As part of a follow-up project, Year 12 art students were encouraged to reflect on what conflict and resolution mean in their own lives. Rather than focusing solely on historical or political conflict, the students explored the personal challenges many young people face today.
Combining research, discussion and artistic experimentation, they developed ideas around inner conflict, examining issues such as body image, self-confidence, identity, mental health and wellbeing, the pressures of achievement, and the influence of social media.
Working alongside professional graffiti artist Ant Steel gave the students the opportunity to translate their ideas into a large-scale public artwork, learning new techniques while experiencing the collaborative nature of community art, with the aim of inspiring others within the school community and encouraging meaningful conversations around resilience, hope and belonging.
Head of art Jo Bustin explained: “The creative process extended far beyond producing the mural itself. During a series of workshops and class discussions, they explored the legacy the artwork might leave and the impact it could have on its audience for years to come.
“Following many weeks of sketching, refining ideas and experimenting with different compositions, the students and Ant settled on a design rich in symbolism. Echoing the stained-glass windows of St Albans Cathedral, elements of light and colour represent hope, peace and reconciliation. At the heart of the mural, a young person holding a balloon reflects the fragile nature of childhood and adolescence, reminding us that young people often carry invisible burdens while navigating the challenges of growing up.
“Alongside this figure is the image of a phoenix, a timeless symbol of resilience, courage and renewal. Rising from ashes and adversity, the phoenix represents the strength that can emerge through difficult experiences and the possibility of hope after hardship. Together, these symbols express the students’ belief that while conflict—both internal and external—is part of life, it need not define our future.
“The mural is intended to become a lasting legacy for the Marlborough School community. It stands as a daily reminder to students, staff, families and visitors that no one faces life’s challenges alone. Through the support of an inclusive school community, dedicated educators, compassionate peers and the encouragement of those around us, everyone has the capacity to grow stronger, overcome adversity and flourish.
“The Art Department at Marlborough School is immensely proud of the commitment, creativity and compassion shown by the Year 12 students throughout this project. Their willingness to explore sensitive and deeply personal themes with honesty has resulted in a work of art that is not only visually striking but profoundly meaningful. The collaboration with St Albans Cathedral and Ant Steel has demonstrated the power of art to build bridges between education, faith and the wider community, while giving young people a voice to share their experiences and inspire hope in others.
“As the mural becomes part of everyday life at Marlborough School, it will continue to remind future generations that conflict can lead to growth, that compassion can overcome division, and that, like the phoenix, we all have the strength to rise.”
Steve Clarke from the Cathedral’s education department, which organised the collaboration with TMSA, added: “This project began with an exhibition hosted at St Albans Cathedral: Art, Conflict and Remembering – The Murals of the Bogside Artists.
“The Bogside Artists drew upon their experiences of the Troubles in Northern Ireland during the 1970s to create a series of powerful murals that encourage us not only to reflect on the past, but also to look towards a future shaped by hope, understanding and reconciliation. Those themes resonated strongly with us and became the inspiration for this project.
Working alongside the talented local graffiti artist Ant Steel, Sixth Form students from Marlborough Science Academy have spent many months developing ideas, experimenting with designs and collaborating to create a mural that reflects the spirit of the original Bogside works while expressing their own perspectives and experiences within their school community.
“The result is far more than a striking piece of art. The students have gained invaluable experience in taking an idea from a sketchbook and transforming it into a large-scale public artwork on a 10-metre by 10-metre wall. They have learned how to work creatively as a team, how to adapt their ideas to a completely different format, and how to respond to the challenges and opportunities that such an ambitious project presents. They have also produced a substantial body of work for their A Level portfolios and benefited enormously from Ant’s creativity, expertise and encouragement throughout the process.
“Projects like this are never achieved alone, and there are a number of people we would like to thank. Firstly, Annie Thomson and Jo Bustin at Marlborough Science Academy, for embracing the project from the outset and supporting it so enthusiastically. To Ant Steel, whose commitment, passion and generosity of time went far beyond what was originally envisaged. ”To the St Albans Cathedral Education Trust, whose funding support helped make the project a reality. And to JMS Powered Access, for the generous loan of the cherry picker – although I should perhaps also offer a special apology that what was intended to be a week’s loan ended up becoming a month!
“Most importantly, however, we would like to thank the students. This mural exists because of their imagination, dedication, willingness to collaborate and artistic talent. They have created something truly remarkable: a piece of work that is both visually striking and deeply meaningful.
“It is our hope that this mural will remain here for many years, inspiring future generations of students to be creative, thoughtful and ambitious, and serving as a lasting reminder of the power of art to spark reflection, build connections and inspire hope.”
