Two large murals inspired by the Tees Valley’s rich industrial heritage have been unveiled at the Tees Valley Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) in Stockton.
The new artworks, painted by local artist Lily Rose Cockfield, have transformed the CDC’s stairwells into a vibrant community space that celebrates local history.
The exciting project has been funded by University Hospitals Tees charities and Tees Valley Museums, supported using funding by Arts Council England.
Complementary health-themed vinyl artworks have also been installed throughout the building to deliver health messages and to create a more welcoming space for patients and visitors.
Created alongside the community
Since opening its doors in April 2025, the CDC has delivered more than 80,000 diagnostic scans, tests and checks to the local population.
And earlier this year, the University Hospitals Tees arts council and Tees Valley Museums placed a joint call for a local artist to create two striking pieces of artwork for the healthcare facility.
Hartlepool-based artist Lily Rose Cockfield was selected as artist in residence and worked alongside Jo-Ann Cole from Tees Valley Museums, and Dr Jean MacLeod and Donna Fairhurst from the University Hospitals Tees arts council to develop the project.
A series of engagement sessions were subsequently held across local hospital sites, the CDC, Preston Park Museum, the Museum of Hartlepool and Kirkleatham Museum.
More than 300 staff, patients and members of the public took part, contributing over 400 ideas, drawings and creative responses that helped shape the final artworks.
Industrial artefacts from local museum collections were also used to inspire ideas and inform the mural designs.
Artist Lily Rose Cockfield said: “Community involvement has been at the heart of this project from day one and it’s been such a privilege to be a part of it.
I am passionate about creating artwork that people feel connected to and can take pride in, so it was important that local voices helped shape the designs and that the murals had a rich industrial story and a strong sense of identity, while being uplifting for the future.
“I hope these murals spark conversations, create moments of reflection and can be enjoyed by the community for many years to come.”
Industrial roots, healthy futures
Inspired by the North East’s rich industrial past, Lily’s murals celebrate the Tees Valley’s history of steelmaking, shipbuilding, railways and chemical industries while reflecting the resilience, creativity and pride of the region.
They were painted over several weeks, with Lily speaking to more than 90 people during the installation process, further strengthening the collaborative nature of the project.
Dr Jean MacLeod, chair of the University Hospitals Tees arts council, said: “From the very beginning, this project was about creating artwork that truly belongs to the community it serves.
“The response was incredible, with hundreds of people taking part in engagement sessions and sharing their ideas, memories and creativity.
“We are really grateful to Lily, our partners at Tees Valley Museums and everyone who contributed to creating these remarkable pieces that have helped to create a welcoming environment for anyone who walks through the doors of the community diagnostic centre.”
The murals were officially unveiled in October alongside new vinyl artwork created by the University Hospitals Tees design team, whose work further enhances the environment, while delivering important health messaging throughout the building.
Collaboration and creativity
Throughout the project, collaboration with Tees Valley Museums played an integral role in developing the artwork – helping to make the installations a true reflection of the people and places they represent.
Jo-Anne Cole, access and engagement officer for Tees Valley Museums, said: “The impact of art on health and wellbeing is very well documented and it’s been a privilege for us to collaborate on a project that brings art into the very heart of a busy clinical setting.
“Working alongside Lily on the community engagement sessions has been brilliant. We’ve seen some very creative people within our local community who were very enthusiastic and brought lots of ideas for Lily to draw upon for the final murals.
“It was not only about making a space functional but being able to look at the overall holistic health of patients and visitors as they move around the building.”
The artwork was made possible thanks to the contributions of everyone who took part in the engagement sessions, alongside Lily’s creativity and commitment to transforming those ideas into visually striking installations that will leave a lasting legacy within the Tees Valley Community Diagnostic Centre.