Local muralist celebrates industrial heritage, diversity and creativity across borough
A Rossendale artist is transforming local spaces into vibrant landmarks with a series of community-driven murals celebrating the borough’s industrial heritage, wildlife and cultural identity.
Amy Callaghan, 30, from Shawforth, is completing her third major public artwork for Rossendale Borough Council. Her latest mural in Haslingden has turned a previously drab alleyway into a colourful celebration of the town’s history and multicultural character.
The alley links Haslingden Market to Deardengate and features local shops, buildings and street scenes alongside themes of community and progress. Its colour palette was inspired by the newly refurbished market stalls.
“This is a celebration of Haslingden’s industrial past and a look towards its future,” said Amy. “The town has such a rich cultural mix, and I wanted the artwork to reflect the energy and diversity of the people who live here.”
The mural is part of the wider Haslingden 2040 Vision, supported by £2.3 million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and a further £500,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to revitalise the town centre.
Amy, a former Whitworth Community High School student, runs Pigs In Mud Art Studios from the Horse and Bamboo Theatre in Waterfoot. Her first mural, created in 2021 at The Alliance co-working space in Bacup, featured caricatures of familiar local faces and marked the start of her public art journey.
In July, she completed a striking spray-painted mural at Thrutch Tunnel in Waterfoot. That work merged Rossendale’s industrial roots with the natural world, highlighting the wildlife found along the tunnels route to Stacksteads.
Each of Amy’s murals has been shaped by public input. For her latest project, she met with groups including Veterans in Communities and CHAI Rossendale, a South Asian women and girls’ group. She also drew inspiration from artist Dave Pearson’s works on display at The Whitaker in Rawtenstall, as well as a stained glass window in Haslingden.
Her work is gaining wider recognition. Amy recently took part in Rochdale’s Common Walls Festival, joining local and international muralists to create pieces that will be displayed across the town. The two-day spray-painting jam marked a shift in the North West’s approach to public art, and Amy hopes to bring that momentum back to Rossendale.
“Art can genuinely change a place. It’s not just decoration,” she said. “It’s a way to bring people together, tell stories and build a sense of community.”
Amy’s passion for art began with finger paints at age two. “In high school, I realised I could turn it into a job. I used to stay behind after class in the art room, I was completely obsessed,” she said.
Her next project will take her to Great Harwood, where she’s been commissioned to paint a 70-metre wall next to a play area.
As for what drives her work, Amy said: “I thought art would have to be corporate and digital, but I’ve found a way to bring handmade art into local spaces. That’s a real privilege.”
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