Two bold murals have been created in Stoke town in a project which hopes to bring a "fresh perspective" on Stoke-on-Trent's industrial heritage and its global connections.

Graphic Artist Rob Fenton unveiled a new mural on the corner of Liverpool Road and Elenora Street, while ceramicist Reiko Kaneko has created a bamboo-inspired mural on the canal side off Vernon Road. 

The "Brilliant Botanicals murals" project was put together by Stoke-based creative organisation Brilliant Bamboo. 

Gemma Thomas, director of Brilliant Bamboo, said: "Bamboo has featured in a lot of surface pattern design over the years, including designs by Spode, Wedgwood and many smaller manufacturers.

"We wanted to celebrate the link between the ceramic industry and bamboo in two prominent gateway sites in Stoke town, and offer residents and visitors a fresh perspective on the city's artistic and industrial heritage.

"It's also about the connection to people all over the world through our ceramics, which are used and enjoyed globally."

Rob Fenton's Mural is inspired by the Japanese art of "kintsugi" - where a number of broken plates are fused back together using gold and lacquer. 

The piece also reflects Stoke-on-Trent's geography, with gold repair lines mirroring the city's road network.

To develop his design, Rob explored historic pattern books in the Spode Museum archives, close to the site of the mural, drawing inspiration from Chinoiserie patterns of the 1780s.

Rob Fenton said: "This project is incredibly special to me, as it celebrates the rich heritage of Spode while adding a vibrant, artistic touch to the community.

"Collaborating with Brilliant Bamboo has been an inspiring experience — they share my passion for creativity and sustainability, making this partnership even more meaningful. 

"I can't wait to see the mural become a lasting tribute to Stoke's incredible history of craftsmanship."

The second mural, created by ceramicist Reiko Kaneko features a large-scale bamboo design.

Known for incorporating bamboo-inspired motifs into her work, this is Reiko's first piece of public art. (Supplied)

Known for incorporating bamboo-inspired motifs into her work, this is Reiko's first piece of public art.

Reiko said: "As a ceramicist I paint plates with glazes with bamboo. 

"I like to paint from the garden so when there is nothing else growing in the winter there is always bamboo growing and I have a few pots of bamboo that I draw from. 

"I'd never painted on such a large scale, but the brief – taking inspiration from bamboo – sparked my imagination.

"My idea was a gold-infused design, inspired by Japanese room dividers like the one I grew up with. 

"At first, I wondered if it would resonate locally, but Stoke has a history of exporting fine china wares with intricate patterns and gold to all four corners of the globe. 

"And now, this gold painting will stay in town, to celebrate not just bamboo but also the people past and present who have worked in the pottery industry."

The murals were created with the support of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, the Canal and River Trust, and Hanley-based Mode Architects. 

They form part of the city council's Stoke High Street Accelerator Green Space Project, with funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

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