“It’s not often that artists get the chance to have their work in front of so many eyes,” says Hayler Garner of Nomad Clan, “and with that there’s a responsibility to have that piece resonate with the area.” Garner, along with Jay Gilleard, is talking about their new mural at the gateway to Doncaster in Yorkshire, northern England.

One of the largest they’ve done, “Future’s Past and Present” is meant to open up discussions in this part of town they say – and to pay homage to parts of the town’s history.

“From a coal miner with his pit pony to a female black NHS doctor, every part of this mural is intentional and tells a story,” they say. They also note that they’ve included other historical nods, including the town’s trade in aviation and locomotive transport, as well as having true Roman ruins and an iconic castle.

“On a personal level, honoring my Grandad’s coal mining heritage in Doncaster is another high point for me,” says Gilleard. “Keeping the memory of those brave miners alive and understanding the hardships of Northern industry that shaped where we are today.”

The mural was managed by Yorkshire-based street art team Art of Protest Projects with the help of funding from Doncaster Creates and Arts Council England.

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