Forth Lane Gallery

Creative Central NCL is a five-year project led by Newcastle City Council that has been funded by money from the North of Tyne Combined Authority, with an aim to “provide support to independent artists and creative businesses in central Newcastle with investment, grants, skills development, and opportunities for growth.”

The Forth Lane Urban Gallery lends new life to this historic lane that has been in use since the 1500s but of late has looked very tired and unwelcoming. The project gives a nod to the past, celebrates the city's history, and creates a fresh, dynamic space for locals and visitors to enjoy.

Six artists were approached with a brief based around the theme of “Pleasure Garden”. Each has produced a piece of work that is now on display on Forth Lane, brightening up what was previously a bit of an unpleasant route from Westgate Road. We will let the designers themselves describe their works in their own words.

Chris Fleming has produced “two large-scale portraits of Newcastle residents with bright, vibrant headpieces inspired by nature, flora and fauna.”

Glenn Malpass, a street artist with a speciality in graffiti, has produced a large-scale mural spreading out along Forth Lane “inspired by the Lane's historic approach to the original Forth Pleasure Garden.”

Jed Buttress has created a 3D wall mural that “resembles historical carvings inspired by the city.”

Laura Sheldon (SHELDO) has created “a striking mural inspired by Victorian pleasure gardens with a bold, modern twist.”

Rebecca Purnell's piece depicts the “ordinary people of Newcastle becoming one with nature, limbs twisting around trees and faces peeping out from the foliage.”

Tullulah Lines has created “a bright, bold, magical, and surreal piece inspired by the freedom and joy of nature and the outdoors.”

So how do these artworks link to Forth Lane and history of the city? Well, many of you have no doubt enjoyed a drink in the Town Wall Pub or The Forth on a night out, but you may be like me and have only just found out how they got their names. The Town Wall is fairly obvious in that it was on the line of the old town wall of Newcastle, but The Forth is actually named after an old recreation area dating back to the 1400s that was located just outside the town walls on the location of Newcastle Central Station and the Centre for Life.

In the 14th century this area of land was given to the people of Newcastle by the then King Edward III in recognition of their frequent defence of the town from the Scots. Between the Gunner Tower and Pink Tower was the location of the Forth Gate, which led to a tree lined square, known as The Forth. It began life as a four-acre square field in the 1500s that was fenced to keep the animals out and was used by people of all ages for recreation. There would have been wonderful views across the Tyne Valley.

By the 1700s The Forth was reached via a beautiful tree lined avenue, Forth Lane, which was described at the time as “the most convenient and delightful promenade in the vicinity of the town”. Every Sunday The Forth would attract a “fashionable, brilliant, gaily-dressed throng”. Much like the pubs today!

Every year at Easter and Whitsuntide, the Mayor and Aldermen of Newcastle would lead a grand procession down to The Forth where festivals would be held and children would bowl their easter eggs. In 1657, a bowling lane was laid in the Forth, and a tavern was built called Forth House on the north side of the recreation area.

Sadly, in November 1842, workmen pulled down the last tree from The Forth and it was this moment that signified the end of the first public park in Newcastle. Newcastle Central Station, Neville Street and the railway were built on this land and the lush, green, pleasure grounds were gone.

In October 2025, one year after the unveiling of the initial artworks, Creative Central NCL unleashed six new artworks into the wild. Following the same theme of “Pleasure Gardens” four of the new pieces can be found on Forth Lane with another two on Pink Lane acting as wayfinders that connect the nearby cultural venues of Newcastle Arts Centre, The Black Swan, The Tyne Theatre and Opera House and NX.

On Pink Lane Alec Saunders (ALECLDN) has created the “Swansong” mural. This points the way to The Black Swan arts venue, “Studio Sights”, and the theatre and music venues of NX and The Tyne Theatre, “Stage Lights”.

This is supported on Pink Lane by “Away with the Everyday” a work by Millie Avis. This is a series of smaller murals of piano keys, trombone and a saxophone, linking with the famous Jazz Café that formerly sat on the corner of Pink Lane and Forth Lane.

Back on Forth Lane, Bex Masters has created “Kundalini” which explores reflection and renewal through feminine energy and transformation. Bex explained it was “Inspired by my multicultural upbringing and heritage, this mural explores the concept of a Pleasure Garden through the eyes and hands of a person of colour”.

Josie Brookes, who you may remember donated one of her fabulous Baltic Arts Centre prints as a Fabulous North Advent Calendar prize last year, worked with students at Newcastle College to create “The Garden Between”, an incredibly colourful piece celebrating young artists and shared creative spaces.

“Natural Connection” by MarkOne87, working with Xero and residents of Tyneside Foyer, is a mural that explores human connections to nature and the importance of green spaces for health and wellbeing. The details in the piece seem to reveal themselves each time you look, I only noticed the dragonflies on my third or fourth viewing!

The final artwork is “Abundance” by Bethan Harris, who draws on her connection to the local landscape to create a beautiful illustration which benefits from closer viewing, revealing the details of the tree bark, wildflowers and leaves. Bethan said of her piece, “My inspiration began with the landscapes of Northumberland, which have always been a source of creativity for me. There's a raw, untamed beauty there that speaks to a more instinctive, sensory connection with nature”.