As summer hit London, we spent a wonderful morning, wandering around Penge with ceramics artist Elena Howard finding spots for a ceramic dinosaur trail around central Penge, comprising 15 works. This series of works was very much for the locals and inspired by the iconic Crystal Palace dinosaurs, just up the road in what was historically known as Penge Common. The dinosaurs in question are a series of sculptures which were unveiled in 1854 following the move of the Crystal Palace to the area after the Great Exhibition in Hyde Park, and are dotted around the lake in the nearby Crystal Palace Park.

Working with ceramics fired in a kiln, it really is impressive to see the array of fun and soulful subjects this artist has crafted and placed about. It is also exceptionally interesting to see how her artistic output has evolved since discovering her work in early 2022, as well as how much she experiments with her creations. The textures, tones, and patterns in her ceramics are so captivating, as well as the way they change in and play with the light about them. We also love how she chooses such perfect locations for her various designs.

So all we can say is that it’s not just about all the larger scale murals, these tiny works that can be so easily missed will definitely brighten your day should you catch them. There is something about these miniature pieces that for us are really exciting, street art is ultimately for everyone, but that doesn’t mean everyone will notice it all. When we discover one of these unexpected gems it always makes for a moment filled with gratitude in being able to enjoy something comparatively exclusive. So if you are around SE20 and the surrounding areas, you may want to keep your eyes peeled and you never know what delights will be discovered.

The works below were placed up with support from ourselves London Calling Blog for our SprayExhibition20 community mural project.