Community and impact surround every project and intervention that Rob Fenton leads. A graphic artist and muralist, Rob’s work is evident across Staffordshire and far beyond, notably making an impact on key high streets in Stoke-on-Trent city centre and Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Rob calls his murals and pieces of art ‘interventions’ because they are just that, opportunities to change narrative, prompt new conversation and create spaces that become communal, shared or are changed by the very presence of something new, unfamiliar or different.

His mural projects on the high street provide a moment for local residents and visitors alike, to experience art in their location, to alter their reality or inspire new thinking in a vibrant and welcoming way.

After graduating from University of Staffordshire with a degree in Graphic Design, Rob has built a reputation over the last 20 years as a champion of the transformative power of art in shaping the social fabric of cities and high streets.

With a passion for creativity, design and innovation, alongside a deep understanding of the power of art in fostering community engagement, Rob is dedicated to contributing to the regeneration of public and shared spaces.

Although Rob works nationally and internationally, it is in the creative county of Staffordshire and from his studio at the Roslyn Works in Longton that he hopes he can make the most significant positive impact on the aspirations of the next generation by demonstrating the power that street art can have on urban renewal and community cohesion.

Rob applies an innovative and collaborative approach to all his mural projects to ensure that his interventions on the high street and urban areas are both groundbreaking and thought provoking, as well as inclusive of some of the best local talent and skills in the area. Every project needs help. From creative direction and commissioning to innovative partnerships and bold vision, Rob’s interventions are created by teams.

Collaborating with other artists and specialists is key to delivering dynamic work but these can’t be realised without high street partnerships, scaffolding expertise, digital support, street cleaning, videographers, tree surgeons, musicians and many more.

Rob believes that contributing to high street regeneration is a community effort that can foster connections, promote dialogue and create new commercial opportunities and employment for other skills in the city and beyond. Rob actively collaborates with local organisations, government agencies and community members to identify spaces in need of revitalisation and to ensure that his artwork reflects the unique identity and aspirations of each neighbourhood or high street.

This work is always meaningful and often provokes emotion and conversation, giving the space for people to engage in their high street in a way that may not have been previously possible. This counters negative narratives about places, assumptions about opportunities and any lack of confidence that may exist as a result of unloved or declining locations.

Rob’s work is often the first of its kind in the UK using pioneering techniques, unique project scopes and technical skills that can often have as much emphasis on engineering as art.

A recent and prominent example is the 100 Years, 100 Faces Mural to celebrate 100 years of Stoke-on-Trent. This project was a collaboration with Alastair Barnett and Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID to bring together the faces of key individuals from the last century who have made a significant contribution to the arts, industry, community and beyond in the city. The first of its kind in Britain, Rob led a team of people to use technology, portraiture and design to create a mural that has now been visited by tens of thousands of people from across the UK, including more than 300 guests on the launch evening.

The mural is not only a chance to raise the profile of a city centre so often overlooked, but also to raise the confidence of those engaging with it to visit again, take a new creative path or create their own change making networks. This is an example of the repeated ‘ripple effect’ that public art installations and murals have, far beyond the intervention itself.

Other high street impact examples of work that Rob has been part of over recent years has been a full building height mural for the centenary celebrations of iconic Stoke-on-Trent founded brand Belstaff in Longton which not only shines a light on a home grown, internationally loved heritage brand, but also revitalises and prompts conversation again and again in the high streets of Longton.

Rob has also been part of high street interventions that are being adopted by other high streets from Scotland to the south west. Artbox was an innovative partnership between BT and Rob, who developed a way of creating art on BT junction boxes to elevate the public realm and spark dialogue.

Rob is now advising other high street partnerships about how to practically create vibrant art for good, that welcomes both local residents and visitors.

Of course, Rob Fenton projects aren’t just about making spaces more vibrant or colourful, they also depict local history, celebrate cultural diversity or advocate for social justice, often carrying a powerful message that resonates with the surrounding community.

Rob Fenton has been nominated in the High Street Impact and Alumni Business Person of the Year categories of University of Staffordshire Business Awards.