A colourful community mural created with members of Sparks is sharing a very human message about mental health, resilience and the ups and downs of everyday life.
The Snakes and Ladders of Mental Health mural uses the familiar childhood game to show how life can move forwards, backwards and sometimes take an unexpected turn.
The words, ideas and experiences featured in the artwork came from members of three Sparks groups, who worked alongside artist Mary Naylor.
During the creative sessions, group members reflected on the things that had helped them, the things that had held them back and the progress they had made. They also found that many of the challenges they had faced were shared by others.
Their conversations and ideas now form part of the finished mural through a mixture of words, illustrations, snakes and ladders.
From Sparks groups to the streets of Scarborough
Mary Naylor developed the project while being mentored by artist Bobby Hick as part of the Scarborough Creative Cluster mentoring scheme. The mural was funded through North Yorkshire Council’s Inspire Fund and installed by Simon Doughty.
The original can now be seen on Newborough in Scarborough’s Old Town, where people passing by can stop, take a closer look and read some of the thoughts that came out of the Sparks sessions.
That is an important part of the project.
Conversations that would normally take place within a group have been turned into a piece of public art that other people can relate to in their own way.
See the mural at This Is The North
On Tuesday, September 15, Sparks will be at This Is The North Convention 2026 at Scarborough Spa, where a large replica of the mural will be on display.
It will give delegates from across the North the chance to see the artwork and find out more about the people and stories behind it.
The convention will bring together communities, organisations, businesses and decision-makers from across the North, with this year’s programme covering areas including wellbeing, opportunity, community voice and healthier, fairer places.
Sparks will be there to talk about its work in Scarborough and why involving local people in projects like this matters.
Michelle Davison-Ward, CEO of Sparks, said: "This mural captures so much of what we see every day at Sparks. Life has its snakes and its ladders and everybody experiences both.
“What makes it particularly special is that the words and ideas have come from people in our groups. They are real thoughts and feelings, and I think almost everyone who looks at the mural will find something they can relate to.
“We’re delighted that a near full-size version will be on display at This Is The North, so, more people will have the chance to see it.”
The mural reflects something Sparks sees every day: progress is not always straightforward. There can be setbacks along the way, but having the right support at the right time can make a real difference.
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