Stunning games-themed bus stop mural is latest head-turning art project by Telford Renaissance man

An accomplished artist who has turned bus shelters across Telford into works of art has unveiled his latest creation - a stunning games-themed mural.

Former factory worker Neil Willis has made a name for himself as an artist over the last 20 years with creative commissions for councils, schools, football clubs and more - and in recent years has been turning heads in Telford with a series of projects transforming bus shelters.

The 55-year-old, who lives in Telford and is known as Auniqueart on social media, has worked with Telford & Wrekin Council to give pedestrian underpasses and bridges a new lease of life too.

His latest bus shelter project in Randlay Avenue, Stirchley, was a commission by Stirchley and Brookside Parish Council, with the brief to create a games-themed mural to brighten up the brick-and-corrugated-metal structure.

He got to work this week and, after being slowed down by cold weather early on, he returned in earnest on Wednesday. Within two days, the bus shelter was transformed.

The design features draughts, snakes and ladders on the sides of the shelter; chess pieces, playing cards and nostalgic nods to classic games including Scrabble on the inside; and a massive likeness of Mr Monopoly on the back with a name check for Telford and Wrekin’s own edition of the famous board game which was released last year.

Neil, who also works as a tattoo artist and DJs on TikTok along with his partner DJ Emma M, uses spray paint cans with a stencil cap, allowing for precise spraying, on his murals - though across the bus shelters he has painted in Hollinswood, Randlay, Brookside, St Georges, Snedshill and Leegomery he has been given artistic licence to try different themes and messages.

“Every one is different for me,” he told the Shropshire Star. “That’s why I enjoy doing them, doing different styles. It keeps it interesting.

“If I’m doing the same sort of painting day in and out... I know it’s my job, but it probably does get a bit boring.”

He works with parish councils as well as Telford & Wrekin Council and other authorities, plus schools in Telford and further afield as well as even Stoke City Football Club, where he has painted parts of the bet365 Stadium and delivered youth outreach workshops.

Last November one of his Remembrance-themed bus shelter murals in Leegomery was defaced with white paint, before Neil restored it alongside the borough council.

“I’ve always drawn, that’s all I could really do,” said Neil, who has been working as a painter for 20 years. “I was more creative than academic. I worked in a factory and that sort of thing but I got made redundant.

“I was doing kids’ bedrooms after work in the evening and someone said ‘you should do this’.

“I still do tattoos [at a studio in Trench Lock, as Colorized] and I’m a DJ. It’s giving me a balance at the moment. Being creative is me!”

Neil shares updates on his creative projects on social media. He goes by Auniqueart on Facebook and Instagram, and DJ Neil Willis on TikTok.