Steps in heart of Bristol given new lease of life

Until now, most pedestrians would pass-by Marlborough Hill Steps – a key pedestrian walkway located between two hospital buildings in the heart of the city- without a glance.

But with the help of a local artist and gardener, the unassuming concrete steps have undergone a striking makeover – with bespoke artwork and the introduction of new greenery to regenerate and bring colour to the area.

Bristol-based artist Farrah Fortnam, whose art is inspired by the natural world and the planet’s ecosystem, was commissioned to design brightly coloured murals that echoed a nature and woodland scene and made the route between the buildings more attractive.

Bristol residents may recognise Farrah’s work from her swirling murals across Propyard’s exterior walls, commissioned to accompany the venue’s immersive Van Gogh exhibition – photo: Chris Cooper

Speaking about the project in a Facebook post, Farrah wrote that it was her biggest artwork yet and stressed the underlying message behind her work.

She wrote: “Our soil needs our urgent help. Soil degradation is approaching levels that threaten food production, climate stability and the very life on this planet.”

The murals now feature along the walkway and tie into the planters and new greenery installed there.

Local gardener, Fiona Mackenzie, who works with Bristol City Centre Businesses Improvement District (BID) for planters across the city centre, was brought in to design simple yet attractive planting to the bare tree pits to add further vibrancy to the area.

The project was coordinated and funded by Bristol City Centre BID and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW). The two organisations worked together to consider how to make these steps more visually appealing, brightening a predominately concrete landscape.

Gardener Fiona MacKenzie designed the planting to accompany the mural – photo: Julian Preece

Speaking about the project, Vicky Lee, head of Bristol City Centre BID said: “We are always looking for ways that we can re-energise the Bristol City Centre BID area, to make the city look and feel more welcoming.

“Following discussions with the team at UHBW, we identified the Marlborough Hill Steps as a location that had received little attention and needed regeneration.

“We wanted to do it in a way that reflects the colour and spirit of the city, with bespoke artwork to make the area more attractive for those visiting or walking past the hospital buildings.”

The project was commissioned by Bristol City Center BID and UHBW NHS Trust – photo: ShotAway

Frances Macadam, head of the arts programme at UHBW, said: “Marlborough Hill Steps walkway has a very high footfall of people walking through the city centre and visiting the hospital buildings that lie either side of it.

“We are grateful to Bristol City Centre BID for leading the transformation of this area, we hope it raises the spirits of our staff and brings some joy to all that walk through it”

Bristol City Centre BID works to make Bristol a better place for those who work, study, live and spend leisure time in the city, whilst UHBW runs an arts and culture programme to improve the aesthetic environment of its ten hospitals whilst supporting staff, students, volunteers, carers and patients to maintain their wellbeing by expressing themselves through arts and culture.

Main photo: Chris Cooper

Read more: The Bristol gardeners working to create system change 

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