Street Stories has arrived in Hemel Hempstead. Eight local artists have transformed familiar spots across the town into a free interactive art trail, running from the town centre through to the Old Town.
Street Stories is our public art programme, and Hemel Hempstead is the latest town to join it, following Leicester, Wolverhampton, Colchester and Stirling. It’s delivered in partnership with Hemel Hempstead BID and Dacorum Borough Council. The trail brings art into the places people already use every day, from the leisure centre and library to the college and the high street.
Why we started Street Stories
We’ve always believed great art shouldn’t be locked away in galleries. Street Stories began with a simple idea. Give local artists a stage they wouldn’t normally get, put their work where people actually are, and let a town tell its own story.
It’s our CSR project and one of the clearest expressions of what we mean by A Better World, by Design. It also sits naturally alongside our work in Arts and Culture, where we help cultural organisations and places connect with the people around them.
“Street Stories has always been about giving local artists a stage they wouldn’t normally get, turning shop windows and community spaces into something people stop and engage with. None of this would have happened without Hemel Hempstead BID and Dacorum Borough Council backing the idea that art belongs in the everyday spaces of a town, not just galleries. Eight completely different artists have spent weeks transforming Hemel Hempstead in their own way, and we can’t wait to meet them, walk the route and see their artworks transform the town centre.”
Joe Nixon, Street Stories Founder
Follow the trail
The trail forms one connected route, so you can walk it in a single loop or dip in wherever you are. It takes you through:
- Hemel Hempstead Leisure Centre, where the trail begins
- Nationwide, on the high street
- The Roundhouse, home to Community Action Dacorum’s Volunteer Centre, with three artworks grouped around the same spot
- The Forum, home to Dacorum Borough Council and the Library, with two artworks
- West Herts College, where the trail finishes
Eight artists, eight ways of seeing Hemel
Artists were selected through an open call run by Hemel Hempstead BID, with priority given to those born, living or working in Hemel Hempstead and the surrounding area.
The eight artists on the trail are:
- Eloise Pilbeam
- Helene E
- James Lark (OhMyArt)
- Wonky Hobo (Gareth)
- Mary Casserley
- Amy Huitson
- Sam D’Cruze (Child Of)
- Katharine Harper
Each artist shared new or existing work responding to one of five themes:
- Connections and community
- A vibrant destination
- Wellbeing and a town in a park
- Roots and heritage
- Future visions for Hemel in 2050
The result is a trail as varied as the town itself. Some pieces celebrate Hemel’s heritage and community, others imagine where it’s heading next.
“I just want to say thank you – it was amazing to have the opportunity to meet other local artists and bring art to the streets, telling a story for people to see in their daily life. I’m really pleased.”
Hélène Engrand, Artist
Bringing the artwork to life
This is where the studio comes in. Our motion team takes each artwork and brings it to life through animation. Every installation carries a QR code, and a quick scan takes you to the Street Stories website, where you’ll see the piece move.
We don’t stop there. Each artist gets free access to their animation, giving them something new to share and a way to take their work further long after the trail launches. It’s a small way of making sure Street Stories gives back to the artists as much as it gives to the town.
Each installation also includes details about the artist and how to get in touch, so if a piece catches your eye, you can find out more about the person behind it.
Made possible by local partners
Street Stories Hemel Hempstead was funded through a £30,000 grant to Hemel Hempstead BID from local government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Projects like this only happen when local organisations back creativity as a real part of how a town grows.
“We’re incredibly proud to launch Street Stories in Hemel Hempstead, bringing striking work by talented local artists into the places people visit every day. This imaginative trail celebrates our town’s identity, heritage and community spirit, while giving residents and visitors a fresh reason to explore, connect and enjoy everything Hemel Hempstead has to offer.”
Heather Card-Jones, Operations Support, Hemel Hempstead BID
“It’s great to see this Hemel Hempstead trail installed for Dacorum residents and visitors to follow, putting creativity at the forefront of improving local places and spaces. We too are energised to be supporting Street Stories as part of delivering on Dacorum’s Arts and Culture Strategy – a story coming to life.”
Cllr Adrian England, Portfolio Holder for Place, Dacorum Borough Council
Why public art matters for town centres
Town centres are changing, and people need more than shops to give them a reason to visit. Free, accessible public art gives residents a fresh way to experience places they think they already know, and gives visitors something to discover. It supports local artists, builds pride in place and brings people together around shared stories.
That’s what Street Stories is built to do, and Hemel Hempstead has embraced it brilliantly.
Explore the trail
The full trail, map and artist details are free to explore any time at streetstories.co.uk. Start at the Leisure Centre, follow the route to West Herts College and see Hemel Hempstead through eight new pairs of eyes.
If you’re a BID, council or cultural organisation thinking about bringing Street Stories to your town, we’d love to hear from you.
