Finished Tonyrefail Mural

Young people in Tonyrefail celebrate their brilliant Welsh mural

A beautiful artwork celebrating Tonyrefail and Wales has been unveiled in a local underpass, which has brightened up the area thanks to the dedication of talented young people and celebrated graffiti artist ‘Tee2Sugars’. 

The Council-funded project is linked to the Tynybryn footbridge replacement nearby, that was completed earlier this year – during which the underpass was also repaired and resurfaced. Find out how the project came about here, thanks to Tonyrefail Community School, the Council’s Highways Structures team, and the Council’s Youth Engagement and Participation Service (YEPS).

Engaging through the Service, a committed group of pupils from Tonyrefail has helped the project through all its stages – having input into the initial design stage, right through to painting the mural from early September 2024. They worked closely with ‘Tee2Sugars’ – the South Wales artist who has completed stunning projects in valleys communities, including the large mural at Mill Street in Pontypridd that celebrates the town hosting the National Eisteddfod.

Having recently completed the finishing touches to the mural, the Tonyrefail pupils met up with ‘Tee2Sugars’ on Tuesday, November 5, to celebrate the finished project and to mark their achievement. They were joined by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member with responsibility for Youth Participation, Councillor Christina Leyshon.

One side of the artwork depicts ‘Tonyrefail’ written in large letters, while it explores traditional Welsh themes such as daffodils and our mining history – along with an anvil, which is an emblem of the village. The other side of the underpass adopts a cartoon style, showing young people reading and writing.

Councillor Christina Leyshon, said: “The young people from Tonyrefail are a credit to their school and their community, having seen the mural project right through from start to finish. The new artwork is absolutely fantastic – it’s bright and colourful, and explores and celebrates important themes such as their village, their Welsh identity, and our mining past. What a difference their efforts have made to decorate the underpass!

“I’d also like to thank ‘Tee2Sugars’ who has guided the young people through the project, and officers from our YEPS and Highways department who have made the project possible. Our YEPS staff are extremely dedicated in carrying out local youth work, both in our schools and in the community – they really do make a difference in young people’s lives. Projects like these bring young people together and encourage teamwork, and the final mural that everyone has helped produce is something the community can enjoy and be proud of.”