Keighley College gets huge new mural as part of BD:Walls

Keighley College has received a new piece of artwork courtesy of street artist Dave Bonzai, as part of BD:Walls, a Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture programme.

Onsite painting was carried out over just a few days, but the overall project – including design development, planning and technical preparation – took several weeks to complete.

The Keighley mural is among a collection of permanent artworks commissioned across the district through BD:Walls, with new pieces also appearing in Bradford city centre and surrounding neighbourhoods. Bonzai’s approach was deliberately chosen to resonate with students and signal Keighley’s ongoing regeneration, rather than focusing on a purely heritage-based design.

The mural now serves as a live learning resource for students – particularly those studying creative arts, construction and design – and is already contributing to wider conversations about identity and regeneration in the town.

Keighley College principal Kevin O’Hare said:

“The mural has transformed our college facade into something far bigger than decoration. It has become a landmark – one that speaks directly to Keighley’s past, present and future.

“Keighley is a town with a rich industrial and cultural heritage. We rightly take pride in that history, but pride should never tip into nostalgia alone. Towns that thrive are those that remember where they came from while being brave enough to signal where they’re going. This mural does exactly that.

“Research into public art consistently shows that artworks which invite interpretation, rather than dictate meaning, create stronger emotional connections and a greater sense of ownership among communities. This mural asks you to pause, look again, and decide what it means to you.

“The lettering appears to sit proud of the wall, like liquid mercury poured and frozen mid-flow. Mercury is an apt metaphor for Keighley itself – reflective, adaptive, sometimes volatile, always in motion.

“We’re delighted to have been able to offer our wall for this project. Not because it makes our building more eye-catching, but because it aligns with our wider mission – to open doors, reflect the communities we serve, and help shape a confident, creative future for the town.”