A revitalised entrance to Brighton Station is encouraging visitors to take a new route to the sea, exploring the city’s vibrant independent shops in the North Laine.

Long-standing station adopters, the Brighton Toy and Model Museum, partnered with Southern Railway, the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew and artist Sinna One to create the large-scale mural at the top of Trafalgar Street, underneath Brighton Station, in a bid to bring more foot traffic to the city’s cultural district.

The project was part of Grow Wild on the Railway, aiming to build connections between local young people and station partner groups along the Southern Railway network, whilst championing UK native plants and fungi. The Museum also received an additional grant from Community Rail Network.

Artist SinnaOne (Daryl Bennett), worked with a group of young people aged 18-26 through several workshops teaching key spray paint and mural techniques.

Together they created the eye-catching 10-metre-long mural, which features the local fauna and flora, wildlife and attractions that best represent the city’s identity and biodiversity.

The work coincides with the Toy Museum’s ambitious plans, also part-funded by Southern, to revamp the main entrance and underpass with improved lighting and a much brighter, more open entrance to the museum.

Jan Etches, Brighton Toy and Model Museum manager, said: “This project is about inspiring local pride and creativity while continuing to brighten the area.

“The new mural complements the wider regeneration of the museum frontage and underpass beautifully. It will make the station approach a place that feels alive, positive and welcoming.”

Tom Easdown, Southern’s head of stations, said: “Arriving into Brighton by train is an occasion in and of itself, from the sweeping views of colourful houses out of the window to the stunning blue iron train shed you’re under when you first step foot in the city.

“The sea is in sight from the moment you leave the station, around a ten-minute walk down Queen’s Road, but tucked away underneath the station is a gateway to the independent, creative shopping district Brighton is famed for.

“Our partnership with Kew through the Your Station, Your Community scheme is a great way to celebrate communities like those in the vibrant North Laine, and this mural does just that – adding a splash of colour which will not only look fabulous but hopefully encourage people to take the scenic route to the sea.”

Keep up to date with future news, projects and events from the Brighton Toy and Model Museum via their website.