A View Worth Holding: My Mural for Compton Hall
- Charlotte Webb
- Oct 1
- 3 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
Earlier this year, I responded to a brief that invited local artists to “follow in the footsteps of William Morris” - to design a mural for the exterior of Compton Hall, a Grade II listed building that’s home to Compton Care’s specialist palliative services. The brief was poetic and purposeful: to create a calming, contemporary artwork that would be visible from the inpatient unit, offering patients a view of something more than brick.
I submitted two designs. One was a gentle picnic scene, full of warmth and whimsy. The other - the winning piece - was a layered, symbolic illustration designed to hold space for quiet reflection. It was selected by a panel led by Compton’s CEO, Rachel Overfield, and I was formally notified with a warm email that still makes me smile.
World in Bloom: Designing with Symbolism and Care
The mural’s concept was rooted in cultural symbolism. Each flower represents a different continent and emotion — woven together to reflect the diversity, care, and quiet strength of the Compton community. I wanted the piece to feel inclusive and intentional, like a visual embrace that speaks across cultures and experiences.
To support this, I created a worksheet titled “World in Bloom: A Map of Cultural Symbolism”, which is available to patients and visitors at Compton Hall. It illustrates the emotional language of flowers across continents, cultures, and community care. While not all blooms are strictly native to their regions, each one holds symbolic resonance and reflects the diversity and spirit of Wolverhampton.
I hope this resource helps visitors connect more deeply with the mural’s themes — to see not just colour and form, but meaning, memory, and shared humanity.
From Mural to Merch: A Calendar Collaboration
Not long after my winning entry was selected, I was contacted by Jade Field from Compton’s retail team. She’d seen the artwork and asked if it could be featured in their upcoming Christmas calendar. What followed was a flurry of emails, a few gentle clarifications (they hadn’t realised I’d submitted two designs!), and a joyful collaboration that resulted in me providing artwork for all twelve months.
Some pieces were created especially for the calendar — including a snowy Compton Hall scene for December — while others were donated from my personal archive of unused illustrations. It’s a rare and lovely thing when a mural leads to a whole year of shared imagery, and I’m proud to know my work will be part of something so tangible and accessible.
Installation and Impact
I visited the site on Tuesday 30th September and met with Ian Groom (PR & Marketing Manager) and Rachel Overfield. The installation was much larger than I’d imagined — reproduced as a triptych across three boards, likely for scale, but visually it feels deliberate. The rhythm of the panels adds a quiet cadence to the piece, almost like it’s breathing.
Seeing it in situ was quietly overwhelming. To know that my work might offer a moment of calm or comfort to someone navigating a difficult time — that’s the kind of impact I hope for in all my public art.
Reflections
This project reminded me that art doesn’t always need to be loud to be powerful. Sometimes, it’s about offering a view, a moment that feels held. I’m grateful to Compton Care for trusting me with this commission, and for the warmth and generosity of everyone I’ve worked with along the way.
To anyone who sees the mural from their window: I hope it brings you a breath of calm, a flicker of beauty, and a quiet sense of being seen.
Learn more from Compton Care’s official press release here:
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