Support quality, independent, local journalism…that matters

From just £1 a month you can help fund our work – and use our website without adverts. Become a member today

The Valleys Street Art Project, which began as one man’s idea over a bag of chips, has grown into on of the most colourful and talked-about cultural movements across the county borough.

In just three years, the grassroots project has turned drab village walls, garages and gable ends into vibrant canvases, attracting well-known artists from across the UK and beyond. Along the way, it has staged its first festival-style event and captured the imagination of communities who once had little in the way of cultural activity on their doorsteps.

From idea to movement

Founder Matt Dey still recalls the moment it all began. Standing in front of a bare grey wall with his son, he wondered aloud why the Valleys couldn’t have the kind of murals that brighten up cities like Cardiff or Bristol.

“I said that wall would be like that all my life and if there was a mural on it, it’d make a massive difference,” he told Caerphilly Observer. “I thought ‘I’m gonna make that happen – even if I had to paint it myself.”

Instead, he opened the project up to artists, securing permission for “legal walls” that could be used for murals. What started with a handful of painters has now grown into a thriving network of more than 20, with new artists regularly applying to join.

Matt says the standard has risen sharply: “At first I was happy to have anybody, but now I need good artists who are going to produce the sort of work the community would enjoy. They have to send me three pieces of work before they qualify.”

Murals that spark a reaction

The project’s murals are spread across Caerphilly County Borough, from Bedwas to Cwmcarn. Some, like the striking depiction of the Welsh goddess Rhiannon, have made headlines and drawn visitors from afar. Others, such as a mural of a knight above a Caerphilly town carpet shop, have become much-loved local landmarks.

“The reaction is almost always positive,” Matt said. “In nearly three years I’ve only seen two negative comments. People stop, talk, ask questions.

“Art is subjective – it’s not for everyone. But my point is it was just a plain tarnished wall. All we’ve done is brighten that space up, so anybody with negative feedback, it makes no sense to me.”

He believes projects like his have helped change perceptions of street art. “It’s not the Bronx. We’re not doing graffiti tags – this is mural work, which councils across the UK now see as something that can transform communities.”

Random Hands: a highlight in Cwmcarn

A major milestone came this summer with the Random Hands festival in Cwmcarn. Over 20 artists gathered at The Fork & Tune pub and nearby walls to create new work in front of live audiences. The event also featured music, children’s workshops and guided tours of the murals.

“People came from London, Bristol – one artist even lugged spray cans on the train all the way from London to paint for free,” Matt said. “The atmosphere was incredible. Local people were following maps around the village, stewards were guiding them, and the artists loved the freedom they had.”

He admits the event took months of unpaid work to organise, but says the impact was worth it.

“Cwmcarn is a quiet village. Residents told me since the post office closed there’s been nothing to draw people in. On the morning of the event, people were already arriving, phones out, following the map. It brought life back into the place.”

Funded by passion

The project runs on a shoestring. A GoFundMe page and occasional council grants provide some help, but most costs are borne by Matt himself. Artists cover their own travel and materials in exchange for the chance to create freely.

“I hate taking money out of the project,” he admitted. “Even buying bottled water for the artists comes out of my own pocket. But the project is so important to me I want to keep it alive.”

Supporters have also chipped in by buying branded T-shirts, often paying more than the asking price to help cover costs.

Looking ahead

The success of Random Hands has prompted requests from Merthyr and other areas to host similar events. For now, though, Matt feels loyal to Cwmcarn and is already planning a return in 2026 on a bigger scale.

“Some people who didn’t give me their walls last time are now messaging saying they wish they had,” he laughed. “Next year they’ll know exactly why I’m knocking on their door.”

For a project that began with one man’s frustration at a dull wall, the Valleys Street Art Project has blossomed into something much larger: a grassroots cultural movement putting Caerphilly on the artistic map, one mural at a time.

• A full map of all the murals is available online at Obv.sr/vsa and to donate, visit www.gofundme.com/f/valley-street-art-project