Street Art Project to ‘Breathe New Life’ into Sunderland City Centre Revealed
Written by Katie Higson on 8th July 2026
Sunshine Cooperative shop, Sunderland, November 2025 (Photo Credits: Katie Higson)
A brand new street art mural in Sunderland that aims to redevelop the area has been revealed.
The Sunniside Project announced that the new mural that it has been planning for months has finally been completed. The mural was painted in collaboration with two Bristol-based artists, Hannah Worsley and Dave Bain.
Street art mural, Sunniside, Sunderland, July 7 2026 (Photo Credits: Katie Higson)
Both Dave (@davebainuk) and Hannah (@paperwallssigns) are mural artists and illustrators, with the latter specialising in sign-writing.
Sunniside’s website explains that:
“In 2023, a Place Strategy for Sunniside was developed that set out a vision for Sunniside as an exciting city neighbourhood for the urban pioneers, creatives and entrepreneurs of Sunderland.”
This project was an initiative that has been supported by multiple organisations including Sunderland City Council, Sunderland Business Improvement District (BID), and Create Streets.
“It aims to bring residents back into the city centre, breathe new life into empty and under loved buildings and offer additional support to the area’s existing partnerships and businesses through short, medium and long term projects,” Create Streets states on its website.
Wall before art mural, Sunniside, Sunderland, November 2025 (Photo Credits: Katie Higson)
Completed wall art mural, Sunniside, Sunderland, July 7 2026 (Photo Credits: Katie Higson)
BID further explains how its Future Walls project plans to “deliver up to seven large urban murals and other supportive temporary art pieces in Sunniside in Sunderland.”
The street art has been painted on the side of small business Sunshine Cooperative’s building.
The Sunshine Cooperative described their reaction: “We have been so very excited about the mural as it’s been a big part of the boost to let people know what we and Sunniside are about.
Obviously we’re called Sunshine and our building is affectionately known as Sunshine corner, so we feel a big part of Sunniside! We’re hoping that people continue to see how this end of the high street is emerging and that they feel safe and secure – as we know there’s been mentioned in the past as a place that people have bypassed.”
They continued, saying that the mural is “another jewel in the crown that is Sunniside”, and “We’ve always believed in “build it and they will come!”
