A brand-new public art trail has officially been unveiled in Huyton Village, giving residents and visitors the chance to explore a series of interactive artworks celebrating the area’s rich heritage and community spirit.

Created by internationally renowned artist Martin Heron and commissioned by Knowsley Council, Art Around Huyton combines public art with a family-friendly puzzle, encouraging people to discover hidden stories as they make their way around the village.

The trail features two key installations, Hands Around Huyton and Family Circle, linked together by decorative coded patterns. Visitors can scan QR codes on each artwork to access a special online cypher, allowing them to decode hidden messages and learn more about the people and stories that inspired each piece.

Celebrating Huyton’s past and present

The trail begins at Huyton Railway Station, where Family Circle forms a striking gateway into the village. Inspired by the iconic biscuit tins once produced at the former Huntley & Palmer factory, the red steel sculpture was developed with input from local communities and reflects themes of belonging, unity and shared identity.

The artwork also comes alive after dark, with colourful lighting designed to welcome visitors into the village.

At the heart of the trail is Hands Around Huyton, a collection of twelve bronze casts featuring the hands of local residents holding objects that represent their personal connection to Huyton.

More than 100 hand casts were created during community workshops in June 2024, with twelve selected to become permanent bronze artworks for the trail.

Artist Martin Heron said: 

“Working on Art Around Huyton has been a truly collaborative experience. 

“By engaging with local groups and listening to their stories, we have created artworks that reflect the pride people have in their community. 

“This trail is about celebrating those connections and making something that residents can feel a real sense of ownership over.”

A new attraction for Huyton Village

Knowsley Council says the trail forms part of wider investment into Huyton, adding to the area’s growing collection of public art, including murals by John Culshaw and Jo Peel, as well as the Edward Lear-inspired alphabet trail at Knowsley Leisure and Culture Park.

Cllr Shelley Powell, Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods at Knowsley Council, said: 

“Public art plays a vital role in brightening up our spaces and making them more welcoming, but it also does so much more than that. 

“It helps reflect the history of an area, tells the stories of the people who live there and creates opportunities for communities to come together, and that is exactly what has happened here in Huyton.

“Art Around Huyton is a fantastic example of how creativity can capture the spirit of a place and inspire pride in where we live, and everyone who played a part in bringing this project to life should feel extremely proud.”

The project has been funded through a number of initiatives, including UK Government funding for a public art trail, Borough of Culture Legacy Investment funding and Huyton Regeneration Funding.

Residents and visitors are now being encouraged to explore Art Around Huyton, crack the hidden codes and discover the stories that make the town unique.

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