Reverie is a mural by street artist Megan Russell aka Peachzz overlooking Sheffields Pounds Park. Standing 25 metres tall it is easily the tallest painting of her career. Featuring a Heron and Kingfisher in nature. It was recently voted runner up in the Street Art Cities ‘Best Mural in the World’ competition for 2024.
A Celebration of Sheffield’s Biodiversity
Reverie is more than just a mural; it’s a love letter to Sheffield’s natural beauty. Centered around the biodiversity of the city’s canal systems. The heron is shown standing tall and proud. Nearby a kingfisher bursts out of the water, whilst a delicate butterfly flutters by. Peachzz describes Reverie as an “explosion of colour,” and it’s easy to see why. The mural brings the vibrancy of nature to a previously bland wall. It creates a striking contrast against the wider cityscape.
“I wanted to create something that would suit the length of that wall,” Megan explained. “It’s such a tall, thin wall, and herons are one of my favourite animals. It felt like the perfect opportunity to paint something close to my heart in the centre of Sheffield.”
From Nomination to Global Recognition
The mural’s impact has been undeniable. Reverie having already won the Street Art Cities award of ‘Best Mural of June 2024’ thanks to public votes. Peachzz described the experience as “absolutely crazy”. A real testament to the power of street art to connect with people on a deeper, emotional level.
Peachzz Speaks to BBC Women’s Hour
The Art of Scaling Up
Painting a 25-meter-tall mural is no small feat. Speaking to BBC’s Woman’s Hour Peachzz shared insights into the process of painting Reverie. One which involves a technique called the “doodle grid”. It’s a method she said was akin to a giant dot-to-dot or colour-by-numbers. It’s a technique that allows an artist to scale up a design onto a wall.
“It looks like an absolute mess at first…. People walking by would freak out, wondering what on earth I was doing. But once the image starts to take shape, it all comes together.”
Peachzz mostly works alone, though for Reverie she had the help of her friend and fellow artist Enso. Despite the physical demands of painting at such a scale. She said that she found the process oddly quick compared to working on canvases. “Reverie took me 10 days in total… it’s intense, but I love it.”
Women in Street Art
Starting out Peachzz describes times when she would be the only woman in the room. Recalling that in some early graffiti jams that was the case even though there would be 100 other artists. “It was surprising at first,” she told Womans Hour. “But over the past 10 years, I’ve seen a lot of change. There are more women in street art now, and the community has been incredibly supportive.”
A Tribute to Grandma Iris
Megan’s pseudonym is a tribute to her grandmother, Iris. Someone who she says played a significant role in nurturing her creativity. “She was a wonderful woman,” Megan shared. “We used to draw, make things, and act together. She fed me tinned peaches and ice cream, and that’s where my love of peaches comes from”. Sadly, Iris passed away recently, but her legacy lives on through Megan’s art. “I’d like to think she’d be proud” said Megan.
A Gift to Sheffield
The impact of Reverie on the people of Sheffield is undeniable. During the Womans Hour interview, a listener sent in a message. “I walk past the mural most days and always stop to look” they said. “It’s beautiful”. Such is the impact of public art on how people perceive the space in which they live. The fact that the mural also is directly inspired by the river and canal systems is important too. It is a city full of bio-diversity and Peachzz wanted to celebrate that.
Megan Russell aka Peachzz is a UK artist based in Sheffield. Reverie topped the poll in the award for best mural of June 2024. It was then entered into the annual ‘Street Art Cities‘ competition to be voted for by the public. Eventually coming second in a pool of 50 other top Worldwide Murals. All images in this article are courtesy of Peachzz and Street Art Atlas.
For more Inspiring City articles you will like, take a look at…
- A Guide to Street Art in South Yorkshire
- Where to Find Street Art and Graffiti in Sheffield
- The Best UK Murals of 2024
- Charanguista Andino wins Best Mural of 2024
- Tallest Mural in Australia by Adnate in Melbourne
- Ashfall Mural by Peachzz Unveiled in South Elmsall
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Lovely write up about Peachzz mural. We’re so proud of everything she has achieved so far, and really excited for what the future brings. We’re very fortunate to have several of her murals dotted around Sheffield at the moment. Each one is incredible.