Ilford inColour 2026 · Event Recap
Ilford inColour 2026: Art, Community and a Town Centre Transformed
Artists transformed streets and spaces across Ilford during two days of live creativity, family activity and community participation – leaving behind an outdoor art trail that visitors can continue to explore today.
On Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 August 2026, Ilford became a canvas.
Across Ilford Hill, the High Road, Station Road, Chapel Road, Clements Road, Redbridge Town Hall and Exchange Ilford, artists worked live in public spaces, creating temporary and semi-permanent artworks while residents, families and visitors watched parts of the town centre change around them.
But Ilford inColour 2026 was about much more than painting walls.
Families queued for activities, businesses provided special offers, children created their own art, live music and entertainment animated the streets, visitors supported London's Air Ambulance through charitable collections, and the London Ambulance Service provided free CPR training to 187 attendees.
The programme brought together art, community, businesses and place, creating reasons to explore different areas of Ilford and demonstrating how culture, town-centre businesses and community organisations can work together.
And although the main festival weekend has finished:
Ilford inColour hasn't.
A significant collection of the artwork remains in place and can still be discovered across Ilford today.
The Artists Put Ilford at the Centre of the Canvas
At the heart of Ilford inColour were the artists.
Rather than simply unveiling completed murals, the programme allowed visitors to watch the creative process taking place live.
Walls, hoardings, temporary structures and unexpected town-centre spaces became working canvases, with artists bringing very different styles, techniques and cultural influences into Ilford.
The programme brought together 24 confirmed artist allocations across 25 art surfaces, spanning both temporary and semi-permanent work.
Semi-Permanent · Ilford Hill
NEBOE — Ilford Hill's Landmark Mural
One of the defining commissions of Ilford inColour 2026 was the extraordinary work created by NEBOE on Ilford Hill.
Stretching for approximately 100 metres, it was the longest mural delivered through the 2026 programme, transforming a substantial stretch of hoarding along an important route into the town centre.
Its scale means the work isn't simply something to stand in front of and photograph. Visitors can walk alongside it, experiencing the artwork gradually as part of the Ilford streetscape.
It demonstrates one of the central ideas behind inColour: taking places people might ordinarily pass without noticing and giving them a completely new visual identity.
Semi-Permanent · Ilford Hill
Tizer — Transforming the IF Bar Hoardings
At the former IF Bar on Ilford Hill, Tizer transformed another prominent stretch of hoarding into one of the major semi-permanent works from the festival.
Visitors were able to watch the artwork develop across the weekend, turning the creation process itself into part of the attraction.
The finished mural now contributes another major artwork to the continuing Ilford inColour trail.
Semi-Permanent · Station Road
Ed Hicks and Nic Mac — A New Look for Bodgers
The Bodgers site on Station Road became another important part of the programme, with work from Ed Hicks and Nic Mac.
Its location close to Ilford Station made this particularly significant. People arriving in, leaving or simply moving through the town centre encountered artwork in a space that had previously been associated with a vacant building and hoardings.
A familiar town-centre frontage became somewhere to stop, photograph and experience differently.
Semi-Permanent · High Road
Aaron Li-Hill — Art in the Heart of the High Road
Between Boots and Popeyes, artist Aaron Li-Hill brought a major artwork directly into one of Ilford's busiest pedestrian environments.
This location captured an important principle behind Ilford inColour: People shouldn't have to enter a gallery to encounter significant art.
The town centre itself can become the gallery.
Shoppers, workers and visitors could watch the work take shape as part of their normal journey through the High Road.
Semi-Permanent · CitiPark Level 3
James Rough and Remi Rough — Taking Art Above Street Level
At CitiPark Level 3, James Rough and Remi Rough extended Ilford inColour into another unexpected town-centre environment.
The work demonstrated that the outdoor-gallery concept did not need to be confined to the High Road or traditional walls.
Visitors following the art trail could discover artwork above street level, transforming an environment people might not ordinarily associate with an arts festival.
A First for Ilford
Pavane Beauty's Henna Mural
Ilford inColour also delivered an important first.
Pavane Beauty delivered the first-ever Ilford inColour henna mural, bringing the visual language and intricate patterns associated with henna into the programme's public-art environment.
The commission widened the definition of what a mural festival in Ilford could be. It brought a different artistic and cultural tradition into the same programme as contemporary street art, graffiti, lettering, illustration and abstract work.
That is particularly appropriate for Ilford: the artwork appearing in its public spaces should have the capacity to reflect the different cultures, traditions and creative voices that make up the town itself.
The Line-Up
Meet the Artists of Ilford inColour 2026
The wider programme featured artists including:
Tizer, ATILA 84, Ed Hicks, Aaron Li-Hill, NEBOE, Nic Mac, Ollie Cooper Signs, Remi Rough, James Rough, Hero 32, Uncandy, Vane MG, Lespleen, Yorgos, AeroArts, hwillustrator, Life, Pavane Beauty, Alistair, Roshan, Gattupalli, Jag Lall, ihopethatwecanalwaysbefriends and After Festival.
Each artist brought something different to the weekend, creating a programme that ranged from monumental semi-permanent murals to artworks designed specifically for the festival itself.
Temporary Works
Temporary Art Was Part of the Experience Too
Temporary work was fundamental to the atmosphere of the festival.
At Redbridge Town Hall, Hero 32, Uncandy and Vane MG brought different styles into the same temporary art zone.
Elsewhere, temporary artist locations at Exchange Ilford, Chapel Road and Clements Road encouraged visitors to discover work across a wider area.
The combination of temporary and semi-permanent artworks allowed Ilford inColour to create the excitement of a live event while also leaving behind a longer-term visual legacy.
Family & Participation
More Than Murals — Families Got Involved
The artwork was the centrepiece, but the wider programme was designed to encourage people to participate rather than simply observe.
Water zorbing proved particularly popular, with continuous queues across both days.
Barkingside Arts delivered creative arts, crafts and mural activities. Fairy Face provided free face painting. And Showstoppers brought crown, laurel and other creative-making activities to the town centre.
These activities also attracted queues across the weekend.
Children weren't simply being invited to watch professional artists. They were being encouraged to create alongside them.
Live Demonstrations
Spray Painting With Tom Welly Wells
Ilford inColour also welcomed Tom Welly Wells, one of the UK's most-followed spray-paint artists, who joined the programme on Saturday 15 August.
Throughout the day, Tom delivered live spray-paint demonstrations and hands-on tutorials, giving children and families the opportunity to see how spray art is created and to try techniques themselves under his guidance.
He also distributed freebies and giveaways on demand, helping create a constant flow of interaction around the activity.
Tom described Ilford inColour as the busiest he had ever been at an event, reflecting the level of public interest and participation he experienced throughout the day.
“This was the busiest I have ever been at an event.”
Tom Welly Wells
His activity captured one of the strongest features of the weekend: professional artists were not separated from the public. They were demonstrating, teaching, talking and creating directly with families, making art something people could participate in rather than simply observe.
Community Outcome
187 People Leave Ilford inColour With CPR Skills
One of the clearest measurable community outcomes of the weekend came from the London Ambulance Service.
Its team provided free CPR training to 187 attendees.
The training gave members of the public practical experience and knowledge of what to do in a medical emergency, demonstrating how a town-centre cultural event can also provide a platform for learning, public-service engagement and potentially life-saving community benefit.
Charitable Partners
Supporting London's Air Ambulance
Visitors were also given the opportunity to support London's Air Ambulance through charitable collections during the event.
We would like to thank everyone who contributed.
Bringing emergency-service and charitable partners into the programme meant Ilford inColour provided opportunities not only to see and participate, but also to learn and give back.
Family & Participation
Creative Activity for Families
The GLA postcard-making activity also proved very popular with families, giving children another opportunity to become creators themselves.
We were also pleased to welcome the Redbridge Fostering Team, who joined the weekend and engaged directly with families and visitors.
Family & Participation
Children Versus Parents on the High Road
The Gladiator Experience brought a very different type of activity to Ilford High Road.
Children challenged children. Parents challenged their children. And whole families got involved.
It brought competition, laughter and activity directly into the town centre and captured an important part of the event's purpose: give people reasons to stop, participate and enjoy Ilford together.
Live Entertainment
Music, Dancing and an Ilford Atmosphere
Live music added another dimension to the High Road, creating atmosphere alongside the artists and family activities.
Station Road developed an energy of its own, with music and dancing at O'Neill's adding to the weekend.
Partnership
Businesses at the Heart of Ilford inColour
For Ilford BID, involving local businesses was fundamental.
Participating cafés, restaurants, retailers and hospitality businesses provided exclusive Ilford inColour offers, helping connect the public programme taking place outside with the businesses trading around it.
Our thanks go to every business that participated.
Civic Voices
Civic Leaders Join Ilford inColour
The weekend also welcomed civic leaders, elected representatives and town-centre partners, who joined the programme to meet artists, visit mural locations and experience the activities taking place across Ilford.
Their comments reflected different aspects of what Ilford inColour is intended to achieve — from business growth and inward investment to pride of place, community participation and changing perceptions of the town centre.
Jas Athwal MP
For Jas Athwal MP, the strongest message was the relationship between local people, local businesses and the wider town centre.
“The more we come out as residents, the more our local businesses will thrive.”
He also highlighted the wider benefit of people supporting and engaging with their town centre, and congratulated the artists who came together to make Ilford inColour possible.
Cllr Bert Jones Mayor of Redbridge
The Mayor of Redbridge, Cllr Bert Jones, focused on the value of seeing people enjoying and participating in activity within their town centre.
“It is a pleasure to see so many people having a good time in the town centre.”
He also spoke about the importance of creating more opportunities to inspire artists to participate in future Ilford inColour programmes.
Cllr Sunny Brar Cabinet Member for Enforcement, Community Safety and Cohesion, LB Redbridge
Cllr Sunny Brar also joined Ilford inColour. His attendance was particularly relevant to a programme built around positive use of public space, family participation and bringing different communities together.
He reflected on Ilford's rich history, its changing population and the role events such as Ilford inColour can play in strengthening a shared sense of community.
“Events like these bring out the best of our community. They provoke thought, reignite the values of this borough and that identity brings everyone together.”
He also highlighted the diversity that defines modern Ilford and the ability of art to create a shared experience:
“We have a colourful, diverse community and it is fabulous to have art bring us all together.”
Sarah de Courcy Rolls Ilford BID Chair & General Manager, Exchange Ilford
As Ilford BID Chair and General Manager of Exchange Ilford, Sarah brought a business and town-centre perspective to the event.
“Ilford inColour is important because it brings businesses together and drives footfall.”
She also highlighted the value of bringing artists with their own followings into Ilford, attracting new audiences, giving local people new experiences and encouraging businesses to collaborate more closely with future inColour events.
Steve Moore Executive Director of Place, Communities and Enterprise, LB Redbridge
Steve Moore connected the artwork directly with Ilford's wider economic and inward-investment story.
“Ilford inColour is a good opportunity to put a spotlight on our town centre. It showcases the great opportunities for inward investment, regeneration and growth that will hugely benefit our local communities.”
He also spoke about the way public art can create conversations about Ilford and help connect that interest with the borough's wider inward-investment ambitions.
“To me, Ilford inColour means ambition, it means happiness, and that reflects our lovely and beautifully diverse community.”
Tom Dewey Director of Regeneration and Growth, LB Redbridge
Tom Dewey focused on how art and culture can support regeneration and change perceptions of place.
“It is essential for people to take a sense of ownership and pride in the places in which they live and work.”
Tom connected Ilford inColour with wider regeneration ambitions, including the River Roding and Ilford Arrival project, and spoke about the importance of creating spaces where people can engage with culture and one another.
“Culture and arts are essential in changing people's perception of a place.”
He described the atmosphere as “brilliant and vibrant” and highlighted the role of public art in giving people a reason to visit.
“Art gives people reasons to visit. Ilford inColour is providing an immediate impact and a reason to visit.”
Pride of Place, Businesses and Community
Cyril Bekoe Ilford BID Manager
For Cyril Bekoe, Ilford BID Manager, the wider purpose of Ilford inColour is the connection between people, place and the local economy.
“Ilford inColour is about much more than putting artwork on walls. It is about pride of place, bringing communities together and putting businesses at the heart of positive change in Ilford.”
“Our aim was to give people reasons to explore the town centre, discover different locations, engage with our businesses and, importantly, want to come back.”
“Across the weekend we saw families participating, artists engaging directly with the public, businesses getting involved and organisations connecting with our communities. We will now review the formal footfall data to understand the measurable impact.”
What Can We Already Say About Impact?
Formal footfall figures for the event period are not yet available, and Ilford BID will therefore not claim an increase in town-centre footfall until that data has been analysed.
What we can already demonstrate is participation. Across the weekend:
- 187 attendees received free CPR training from London Ambulance Service.
- Visitors supported London's Air Ambulance through charitable collections.
- Water zorbing experienced continuous queues across both days.
- Barkingside Arts, Fairy Face and Showstoppers attracted families throughout the weekend.
- The GLA postcard-making activity provided another popular creative experience.
- Children and parents participated in the Gladiator Experience.
- Local businesses supported the event through exclusive offers.
- Artists created temporary and semi-permanent artwork across multiple locations.
- Civic, public-sector and community organisations engaged directly with people in the town centre.
Together, those outcomes show inColour becoming a platform where artists, businesses, public services, charities and community organisations could engage with people within the same town-centre environment.
Formal footfall analysis will follow separately.
Legacy
The Weekend Finished. The Art Didn't.
This is perhaps the most important post-event message. Much of the artwork is still here.
The temporary and semi-permanent works mean people who missed the festival – and those who attended – still have a reason to explore Ilford inColour.
- Come back and find NEBOE's landmark mural on Ilford Hill.
- See Tizer at the former IF Bar.
- Explore the Bodgers artworks on Station Road.
- Discover Aaron Li-Hill between Boots and Popeyes.
- Head up to CitiPark Level 3 and see the works there.
- And continue exploring the other locations across Ilford.
Follow the Trail
Explore the Mural Map
The Ilford inColour Mural Map makes it easy to find the artwork and follow the trail around the town centre.
From the Weekend
Relive the Weekend Through the Gallery
Hundreds of moments were captured over the weekend. The Ilford inColour Gallery is now live, bringing together photographs of the artists, artworks, activities and people who made the weekend possible.
If you attended, take another look. If you missed it, discover what happened – and then come into Ilford to experience the artwork that remains.
View the Gallery →Made Possible Through Partnership
Ilford inColour could not have been delivered at this scale by one organisation.
The programme was made possible with UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) funding and support from the London Borough of Redbridge.
Our particular thanks go to Wood Street Walls, our arts delivery partner, for its work with the artists and in helping turn walls, hoardings and spaces across Ilford into an outdoor gallery.
We also thank the London Ambulance Service, whose team trained 187 attendees in CPR, and everyone who supported the London's Air Ambulance collections.
Our thanks extend to the GLA, Redbridge Fostering Team, Barkingside Arts, participating businesses, artists, performers, activity providers, food traders, fairground operators, council teams, partners and staff who helped make the weekend possible.
Most importantly, thank you to the residents, families and visitors who came along and participated.
Come Back
Come Back and Explore Ilford inColour
Ilford inColour was two days of creativity and community activity. Its legacy can last much longer.
The paint has dried. The artworks remain. The gallery is live. The map is ready.
Come back. Follow the map. Find the art. Explore Ilford.
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