Cudworth Townscape
About the design
I worked closely with the Roberts Street Community Garden and Allotment, as well as the Jolly Good Communities youth group, to create a piece that truly reflects the spirit of nature and local heritage.
The journey started with a community printing workshop at the allotment, where people designed poly prints of the plants and animals that make the space so special - continuing even through a classic British downpour in the tomato poly tunnel! Over at the IKIC Centre in Cudworth, young people helped create monoprints of local landmarks, which became inspiration for the final artwork.
Designed on wooden board for flexibility, the finished piece can be displayed in different ways—either as individual artworks or arranged together, horizontally or vertically, to suit different spaces.
- Lucy Burns
How to use the townscape
Can you find these scenes in the townscape?
Printing in the Poly Tunnels: We hosted a community printing workshop at the Roberts Street Allotment, transforming the fence along its edge into a vibrant display. Participants selected images of plants grown in the allotment and animals that call it home to create their poly prints, celebrating the natural life of the space. When a sudden downpour hit, we retreated to the shelter of the tomato poly tunnels, where we continued creating together, undeterred by the British weather.
Cudworth IKIC: At a workshop at the IKIC Centre in Cudworth, I joined the Jolly Good Communities youth group to create a series of monoprints inspired by local landmarks. Together we selected important sites, including war memorials and historic churches, capturing elements that reflect Cudworth's heritage. These iconic buildings were woven into an imagined landscape, they provided inspiration for the buildings that were used for the final townscape mural.
Roberts Street Community Allotment: The Roberts Street Community Garden and Allotment is a vibrant space where people come together to enjoy nature and learn about growing plants and food. Supported by dedicated voluntees, the garden thrives as a place to build skills, friendships and a sense of community. The new sign I have created for them includes a quote from a cherished garden plaque: "Your mind is a garden, your thoughts are seeds; you can grow flowers or you can grow weeds".
Workshops at Roberts Street Community Garden and Cudworth IKIC Centre
About the artist
Lucy Burns
Lucy Burns of LJayBee Illustrations is a print artist, mural painter, and illustrator from Barnsley. A fine art graduate of Newcastle University, she is inspired by nature, storytelling, and Yorkshire landscapes. Much of her work features depictions of flora, fauna, and literature.
Aside from her personal practice, Lucy is a socially engaged artist who works with schools, community groups, and local organisations to make art available to the wider community. She delivers printmaking workshops, runs collaborative mural projects, and teaches part-time secondary Art, allowing others to engage with their own creativity.
Her work includes public and private commissions, ranging from murals to detailed illustrations, always aiming to connect people with art in an inclusive and inspiring way.
www.instagram.com/ljaybeeillustrations
The ‘Principal Townscapes’ project has been commissioned and funded by Barnsley Council's Cultural Development Fund programme, Storying Barnsley.