YOUNGSTERS from Blaenau Gwent plan to transform their community with colourful artwork after taking part in workshops with a Gwent artist.

The Ebbw Fach Communities First Youth Team (EFCFYT) helped organise the events, along with local businesses, and the Swffryd Community Centre.

The session, led by self-taught Abergavenny artist Danielle Farringdon, 32, invited children to learn about street art and develop their own designs with the aim of sprucing up buildings in the area owned by Tai Calon Community Housing.

The graffiti will adorn a wall behind three businesses on Walters Avenue – Nisa Local, Mitchell’s Tailored Barbering and K .C. Hair Design – while also being displayed in the Swffryd Community Centre and Youth Club.

Mark Davies, of the EFCFYT, described the day as a great success, crediting the partners and businesses who donated funds towards the scheme.

“My job is to reduce risky behaviour in young people aged between 11 – 25 and what’s interesting in Swffryd is that young people have a vision of what they want to do," he said.

“The young people are creating something for their community and it has been amazing to see all the partners working together with everyone and to see everyone getting their needs met”.

The graffiti art was developed from the children’s own styles and interests, ranging from teddy bears made from geometric shapes to 1980s style bubble writing.

Artist Ms Farringdon originally became involved with the Ebbw Fach group at an integrated youth event and although she specialises in photorealism, she let the children take creative control for the day.

“The girls wanted to so a scene of a sun set beach while the boys wanted to do a skull and cross bones with the word 'destroyer' underneath so we decided to combine the two,” she said.

“They were really proud and chuffed with their work [...] If you let them do it themselves rather than pushing them in one direction they’re very successful that is what I like about it”.

Chairman of Swffryd Community Centre and Youth Club, Dennis Hughes, added: “Our centre has operated for 50 years as a building and has a lifetime of community service and involvement.

“It’s good for young people to be together and we want to instil that in the minds of young people”.

To take part in the graffiti session, children also had to volunteer in their community and collected 16 bags of rubbish from their local area as a result.

“From this perspective I’m really happy with the young people and their commitment to their community," said Mr Davies.

The graffiti sessions will continue today (Wednesday, August 17) and will require another session before being completed.