Artist Commission: Under the Bridges at Little Venice

Artist Commission: Art Under the Bridges at Little Venice

Westminster City Council's Place Shaping team have commissioned artist team Such Stories with award winning illustrator Laura Carlin to design a series of three local tiled murals under two bridges at Little Venice to animate along the canal through local storytelling.

This commission seeks to foster a more welcoming environment, celebrate local narratives, enhance wayfinding, and build a stronger sense of place. The selected work will help instil pride in the community and contribute to defining the identity of Little Venice for years to come. Aimed to be delivered Summer 2026, it forms part of the first phase of the council’s broader public realm improvement programme for the northern Canalside, set to be delivered in stages over the coming years.

Current status: A planning application has been granted for the concept design proposal. Following this Laura will develop the detailed final artwork.

The artist team

Laura is an award-winning illustrator and ceramicist whose work over the years has earned the Bologna Ragazzi Award, a V&A Illustrated Book Award, the Quentin BlakePrize two years running, has been voted an ADC Young Gun and winner of the children’s book illustration award at the Biennial of Illustration Bratislava, the first Brit to hold this title in 20 years 

Jo has honed her craft in the design and branding industry, working and directing teams on projects spanning the arts to the commercial H&R sectors both here in the UK and America, and making her mark on everything from identities and book design through to environmental graphics.

Together they work on surfaces spanning tiles to paper, wood, fabric, metals, walls, floors and doors.

Wider delivery team:

• Lead Architect: East Architecture & Urbanism
• Structural Engineers: Alan Baxter
• Lighting Design: Studio Dekka

The proposal by Such Stories 

The artwork across three tile murals looks to celebrate the areas' unique rich history and contemporary stories.

Site 1a - Rembrandt Gardens to Stone Wharf north: Towpaths to Towers

The proposal is to create an illustrated tile mural that celebrates the entire history of the waterways in Little Venice and Paddington — from their earliest beginnings to the vibrant life of today. Designed as a chronological, story-rich mural, will act as both educational resource and visual journey, engaging residents, visitors, children, and families in the remarkable evolution of canal life. Like turning the pages of an illustrated book, the mural will lead the viewer along a timeline of events — showing how the canal shaped the area’s landscape, economy, and communities across centuries. It will act as a lasting legacy for the regeneration of Paddington, combining history, artistry, and storytelling in one compelling public artwork.

Site 1b - Rembrandt Gardens to Stone Wharf south: Roses to Regattas

Co-created with local primary school children from Ark King Solomon and Hallfield Primary, the mural will unfold like an illustrated discovery map, inviting young and old alike to explore the wonders of canal life. Flowing across the bridge wall, our tiles will depict the natural colourful scenes from the gardens and water, charting the passage of time and life along the canal. Visitors will be able to follow playful visual trails, spotting familiar landmarks and new details with each visit.

Site 2: Stone Wharf to Porteus: Horse Tracks to Coffee Cups

This vibrant tile mural will bring to life the working history of London’s waterways inspired by local stories from the residents and businesses at the canal — from the bustling industrial past to the lively, community-driven present. Designed as striking large scale visuals, the mural will offer immediate impact and interest to visitors walking past, while inviting closer exploration through layers of history and detail. It will celebrate the material culture, trades, and stories that have shaped the canal over centuries, revealing the continuity of work and life along the water: from coal barges to cafés, timber yards to mooring rings, horsedrawn towpaths to today’s cyclists and joggers. Drawing inspiration from the Wharf’s own visual language, the mural will weave together the textures and patterns that define its identity — the circular geometry of mooring rings, the linear imprints of horse paths, the architectural silhouettes of cranes and warehouses, the distinctive Victorian typography, and the everyday objects that have become historical artefacts. These motifs will flow across the composition as decorative borders, repeating patterns, and layered textures, creating a dynamic sense of rhythm and connection between past and present.

Commission brief

The brief document can be found below. This document gives further details including the project background, requirements and submission criteria. Please read the brief in full and make sure you meet all the criteria before submitting your application.