A mosaic made by the community, now on the Mildmay line
- 12 hours ago
- 4 min read
On Wednesday 17 June 2026, South Acton station became home to a new community-made mosaic roundel celebrating the Mildmay line.
The mosaic artwork, created by Artyface with hundreds of local residents, commuters and volunteers, and made possible through the generosity of First Rail London and Vistry Group, now greets passengers on the northern approach to South Acton station, complementing an earlier mosaic mural already installed at nearby Acton Central.
South Acton sits at the heart of a community that has undergone significant change over recent decades. Once known for its large post-war housing estate and strong working-class identity, the area has long been home to generations of families, community organisations and local landmarks that have shaped the character of Acton and the wider borough of Ealing. The new mosaic reflects these stories through artwork created by residents themselves.
The hand-crafted ceramic tiles were made over summer 2025 through three community events: an Acton Gardens Summer Fun Day, run with Countryside Partnerships and housing association L&Q, where families and neighbours made their mark in clay; a “Meet the Manager” workshop, where commuters created tiles on the go at the station; and a session with City Harvest, the Acton-based foodbank that supports Acton Community Fridge. People of all ages and abilities contributed their own “mini masterpieces”, leaving a lasting legacy for Acton and its stations.
The mural marks the Mildmay line on the London Overground, named in 2024 in recognition of Mildmay Hospital’s pioneering care for people living with HIV/AIDS since 1988, its ongoing support for LGBTQIA+ communities, and over 160 years of service to east London.
Unveiling the South Acton mosaic
The unveiling brought together artists, rail partners, local residents and supporters of Mildmay Hospital to celebrate what community art can do for the built environment. Artyface’s founder, artist Maud Milton, joined fellow Artyface artists who worked on the mural, alongside representatives from First Rail London and Vistry Group.
Over several weeks, Maud and the Artyface team ran a programme of creative workshops, inviting South Acton residents of all ages to contribute original illustrations, patterns and memories, each one incorporated into the final piece, which now covers a wall forming part of the approach to the station. From there, passengers continue on to platforms 1 and 2, where the official First Rail London and TfL roundels marking the Mildmay line form part of the everyday signage and infrastructure of the railway.
The project was made possible through a partnership between First Rail London, Vistry, a leading UK homebuilder working in partnership with housing associations and local authorities, and Artyface, with joint funding drawn from social value and community investment commitments.
Maud Milton, artist at Artyface, said:
“The South Acton mosaic is really about the whole community; people get to own public spaces and become stakeholders in them. It becomes a celebration when they make a tile for it. At the heart of this project is putting people’s history and their stories into the piece. Although I’m the artist, I wouldn’t say it’s just mine because lots of people in the community contributed to its creation.”
Mildmay’s Chief Executive, Geoff Coleman, shared the hospital’s story and what it means to see the Mildmay line become part of thousands of daily journeys, before cutting the ribbon to unveil the plaque and mural.
“When we first heard about the line being named after the hospital, we couldn’t believe it. It gives all the staff working here, and those who have worked here in the past, a real sense of appreciation for what they’ve done. They feel remembered and honoured. It’s mind blowing.
“The new mural spreads the message about communities supporting health workers who are doing such difficult and challenging jobs. We’re very fortunate in this country that people love the NHS, and when they get behind it, it really matters. It also helps the staff feel loved and appreciated.”
Made by Artyface
The mosaic was created by Artyface Community Art, led by artist Maud Milton, who founded the organisation in 1999 to make high-quality, lasting public art with community involvement at its core. Artyface estimates it works with more than 4,000 people a year, bringing people of all ages and abilities together to create artwork that can be enjoyed for generations to come.
This is part of a wider project of London Overground roundels: more than 30 are now installed at over 12 stations, mostly in north-east London, made with the help of over 3,000 community participants since the project began. Beyond London, the project has expanded to four roundels at Worthing train station, two in Birmingham and two at London Southern stations, with three more Birmingham roundels and two at Walsall in progress. The South Acton and Acton Central mosaics were funded by Countryside Partnerships and First Rail London, with support from A.J. Wells, Ardex UK and Marmox UK.
What’s next
Mildmay is excited about exploring future collaborations with Artyface for a piece of public art at the hospital itself, and First Rail London to deepen the connection between the railway and the communities the hospital serves. More on that as plans develop.
Mildmay still has work to do
In the UK, new HIV diagnoses have begun to rise again among women and heterosexual men, especially in cities like London, and too many people are still diagnosed late, when the virus has already done serious damage.
Mildmay stands alongside the NHS at that sharp end of the epidemic, using specialist rehabilitation to help people walk, speak, think clearly and live independently again and we rely on people like you to help keep that care available.
