Who's on the bus
34Bus was founded in 2021 by Alistair Leys, Liv Wright, Amaechi Anolue, and Amy Dolan. Al, Amy and Liv studied together at Lewisham School of Muralism in 2020. During her lockdown walks, Liv came across and saw great painting potential in The Pymmes Park VC. The team applied for and were granted funding from the Mayor of London in 2021. Their painting life escalated after that and through their first VC design workshops they met Amaechi as a volunteer. During the painting process Amaechi stuck with the painting crew and in turn trained with the Lewisham School of Muralism. 34Bus has had multiple successful projects since. Each member of the team brings their unique strengths and curiosities. The energy for each project is centralised in the communities they work with.
The name 34Bus honours the number 34 bus which drives through Edmonton and past the collective's first mural, on a daily basis. The word ‘bus’ originates from the latin word 'omnibus' meaning “for all”. Through their projects they strive to make art that accompanies people through their everyday life. All their mural designs are created through engaging with the community in creative ways, and listening.
Al
An exhibiting painter, and muralist, after graduating from Central Saint Martins, Alistair Leys has had numerous exhibitions, as well as a series of murals with 34 Bus. In his personal work is an interest in people and place; what it is to be human in the systems and urban environments he lives in and in the multiplicity of realities in our digital world. This has always developed alongside his public works with the same fascination for cities and often overlooked beauty on its fringes. Muralism’s community aspect creates dialogues with people, playing with ownership and life in places that can often seem devoid of this. A belief in public space and the power of collective making has come to drive his practice.
A glimpse at Al's practice...
Liv
Like many on the artistic career path, Liv’s journey is marked by unexpected twists and turns, the occasional dead end, and the discovery of unexpected sights and treasures along the way. Liv embarked on this journey with a first-class degree in Design for Performance from Central School of Speech & Drama, where Liv now teaches as a visiting lecturer in Theatre Practice. Liv's international work as a set and costume designer, particularly in new writing and feminist theatre, has been integral to Liv's career. This was recognized with the META Award for outstanding set design for Liv's work in "Foxfinder" with Imago Theatre, Montreal.
In 2020, Liv expanded Liv's skills by joining the first cohort at London School of Muralism, eventually becoming the school's coordinator and a familiar face at Artmongers Action. To complement Liv's practice, Liv's work as an access support worker with artists with disabilities underscores Liv's commitment to inclusivity across different art forms.
A glimpse at Liv's practice...
Amaechi
Amaechi is an illustrator and caricature artist. He studied visual communication design at Middlesex University in North London. Amaechi had previously been a regular contributor to the Evening Standard and now runs a private illustration practise specializing in cartoon style illustrations and children's books.
He believes adding muralism to his practise is a fantastic way to meet people and create art that transforms surroundings and gives people joy.
Amaechi enjoys quiet times reading, listening to soulful music and baby sitting his 7 year old niece and 2 year old nephew even when they are terrors.
A glimpse at Amaechi's practice...
Amy
Based in Brighton, Amy enjoys illustrating small quiet moments of observation. She believes these observations should be honored in momentous ways. She endeavors to do this through the use of colour, scaling up, and putting things into new contexts.
These days she gets a far few of her ideas, through collaborating,at bedtime, with her young daughter. They both like playing with painting,doodling,darkroom processes, clay, and printing making.
Amy has a Fine Art Painting BA from Wimbledon College of Art, and has studied Art Psychotherapy at Goldsmiths. She officially got over her fear of ladders, when she graduated from the Lewisham School of Muralism in 2020.
Before muralling with 34Bus, she worked on multiple participatory art projects, in Alaska,Sri Lanka and Austria.
A glimpse at Amy's practice...
