Drawing a crowd in Sheffield

The project, commissioned last year, features a crowd-sourced poem by acclaimed poet, Warda Yassin, alongside a striking new mural by local artist, Grace Visions.  

Located near the Grade II listed Bacon Lane Bridge, made famous by the 1997 film, The Full Monty, the installation is a symbol of the canal’s enduring role within the community, and a celebration of the people who have lived, loved, and worked on it.

Poet, Warda Yassin, who served as the canal laureate for Sheffield between 2020 and 2021, took inspiration for her poem, ‘Canal Works’, from the sights, sounds and local voices she encountered on the towpath. 

“I took several long walks along the Sheffield & Tinsley canal,” she explains, “collecting ideas, words and phrases. I researched its history and came to realise how integral canals have been to South Yorkshire’s industrial history. Chatting to people on the towpath got me thinking about the special role canals play in connecting cities, people and cultures.” 

Warda hosted a series of poetry workshops, where she asked young writers and local residents to contribute their own thoughts, words and experiences. From there, she was able to pen a beautifully evocative piece, which resonates deeply with the area’s collective history and environment. In her poem, she describes the canal as a cultural hub, a haven for wildlife, and a tranquil space for visitors. Once the lifeblood of industry, it connected Sheffield with the wider world and bore cargo, soldiers, and migrants.  

Sheffield-based visual artist, Grace Visions, brought Warda’s words to life with a vibrant mural overlooking the canal. Incorporating a line from Warda’s verse – “upside down sky” – Grace combined bold shapes and bright foliage, inviting visitors to reflect on how the canal connects nature with the urban landscape.

As Grace tells us: “By intertwining art and poetry, I tried to create a space where people can pause and consider their relationship with nature, finding beauty and exploring the wonders of the canal. I chose the line in the poem as I felt it conjured personal memories of visiting bodies of water and the colourful skies reflected in them. It’s such a lovely feeling to know you’ve put something out there that people are going to see for years and years to come.” 

The ambitious art project, in partnership with The Poetry Society, follows swiftly on from British artist, Alex Chinneck’s piece, ‘The Looping Boat’, which was installed on the canal last year, between locks 4 and 5.

The arresting six-foot-high sculpture, which appears to float on the water, features a traditional narrowboat in a ‘loop-de-loop’ configuration. Clearly visible from the canal and towpath, the steel sculpture bears the name of the very first vessel to ever navigate the Sheffield & Tinsley Canal back in 1819, The Industry. 

The artwork has been a big success, attracting hundreds of visitors and making headlines across the country. When asked about his creation, Alex told reporters: "The 200-plus-year-old Sheffield & Tinsley Canal is an under-celebrated gem on the edge of the city. We wanted to create something that celebrated the history of the canal and resonated with its industrial heritage.” 

These two incredible pieces of art in Sheffield are part of our wider vision to beautify unloved or neglected spaces on our canals, working in tandem with local partners, communities, and artists across our network.  

Our canals and rivers have a way of capturing people’s imagination, evoking awe and wonder. Now, thanks to projects like the ones on the Sheffield & Tinsley Canal, they’re helping to inspire the next generation of writers, poets, and artists.

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