South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture

South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture’s (SLLC) Art Development team have created a bespoke mural inspired by the lives of local people.

Staff spent time with residents of McKillop Gardens in East Kilbride who shared stories and memories of their lives.

These conversations inspired ‘Windows to the Past’, a project which transformed the corridor walls within McKillop Gardens into a trip down memory lane.

Kayleigh McCallum, a local artist and SLLC art tutor, painted the mural: “It was an enjoyable project to work on and brought a sense of brightness and fun to the corridor. I loved meeting all the residents and staff that participated along the way too.”

The theme centred around windows which offered a glimpse into past familiar places and memories such as holidays to the seaside, going dancing, garden walks and village life.

“The aim was to provide residents with a nicer environment to walk through every day” said Valerie Miller, Care Home Manager.

“The mural also gave residents something to talk about and encouraged them to increase their step count and increase their mobility levels each day.”

“The discussions with residents were beneficial and enjoyable to them and to staff, Kayleigh captured the themes really well and with such great detail.”

“Every time you look at the murals, you spot another detail!”

The mural project has transformed the corridor into an enjoyable and interesting space which captivated the McKillop Gardens community and boosted the moods of staff and residents alike.