How a giant mural at Leeds City Station aimed to combat the scourge of graffiti

This giant mural was painted on the walls of the Bishopsgate Street staircase.

And their solution to the problem in June 1986? A giant mural painted on the walls of the Bishopsgate Street staircase.

It was the work of Leeds Polytechnic art student William Potter whose reward was a ticket for unlimited free rail travel in Europe for a month.

With the problem of graffiti increasing British Rail consulted Graham Roberts, and advisor on art in public places in an effort to find a solution.

The result was the mural which would be seen by thousands of passengers daily.

BR's Leeds area passenger manager Gordon Dennis said: "With no colour predominant Mr Potter has cime up with an imaginative design that will make graffiti virtually impossible.

William Potter, 22, from Ashbourne in Derbyshire was a second year student on the BA fine arts honours degree course at the Polytechnic.

His work was chosen for the station as a result of a competition.

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