Lick of Paint is a weekend-long mural and street art festival for Sheffield, happening for the first time in September 2025.
The festival will bring together local and international talent to transform the city's walls, underpasses and empty corners with powerful, high-quality public art.
Sheffield-based artists Alastair Flindall (aka Neck of the Wood Studio) and Megan Russell (aka Peachzz) are behind Lick of Paint. Alastair is known for his community-led work and immersive projects. Peachzz, meanwhile, is a muralist whose 25.5 metre-high kingfisher and heron mural in Pound’s Park was recently runner-up in Street Art Cities' Best Mural of the World.
Alongside the colourful art, expect fun ways to interact with murals through augmented reality (AR) and projection mapping, collaborations with the likes of Artworks and ART+ at the Children's Hospital, a mentoring programme for emerging artists, and more.
Read on for some programme highlights. And see the festival's map for details of where to discover street art over the weekend.
Upcycling Workshop
On Saturday, join the House Skatepark, 11am–4pm, for a free upcycling workshop. They'll be rolling out the brushes, cracking open the paint, and inviting you to get messy (in the best way possible). Grab a recycled paint can or skateboard from the stash and give it a fresh new look.
Or do you have a tote bag or an old tee crying out for some flair? They've got stencils at the ready. Feeling extra bold? Bring something totally random a chair, a plant pot, a garden gnome and they'll help bring it back to life!
Accessible to over 3s for chalk pens, over 6s for acrylic and over 9s for spray paint.
Battles
On the Saturday, Alder bar in Kelham Island will host three battles, kicking off at 12pm – free and family-friendly. Followed by a Kid Acne DJ set after the finale at 7:30pm.
Bomb It 1 & 2
Join Kelham Island Film Club at Alder on Sunday afternoon for a free screening of landmark documentary Bomb It, back-to-back with its sequel. They explore global graffiti movements and the fight for control over public spaces. Book in advance.
Artists for Lick of Paint 2025:
45rpm
Daniil Danet
Elle Paints
Fives
George Rose
Grace Visions
Kid Acne
Marcus Method
Mila K
Mushh Studio
Oskar with a K
Rice
Rob Lee
Romaround
Roo and the Crew
TCM Crew
Tech Moon
Wee Nuls
Wom Collective
- Featured in
- Art picks
- Sheffield Festivals Guide
