This mural was created for the exterior wall of Sydenham Library by artist Eli Delbaere, as part of a community co-design project led by Calico Arts. It was selected by a community vote and painted by Eli in early April 2026.

The design begins with a participant’s drawing of books transforming into butterflies, developed through a series of community workshops into a full composition. The lettering of “Sydenham Library” uses a font inspired by medieval illuminated manuscripts, and the two butterflies depicted are species found in Sydenham Hill Wood: the Red Admiral and the Purple Hairstreak. Two magpies sit in the tree to the right, a reference to the traditional counting rhyme and its association with joy. An open book held in a reader’s hands sits at the centre of the image, its pages covered in handwritten text. The design brings together themes of storytelling, literary tradition, and the natural world.

The paint-up was a participatory process in its own right, with more than 30 people taking part including Sydenham locals, children from Home Park School, and library users. Susan Rafique also assisted with the session. The mural was completed as part of Eli’s studies at the London School of Muralism, with guidance and materials provided by his tutor. All paint was supplied through the Forest Recycling Project, an organisation that resells high quality reclaimed paint at low cost, supporting emerging artists and keeping usable materials out of landfill.

Eli Delbaere is a visual artist, muralist, and arts educator based in London. His large-scale work blends figuration and abstraction, drawing on mythology, folklore, and Celtic heritage. He has facilitated participatory art projects across a wide range of community settings and works regularly with arts charities.

Read more about the collaborative process behind this mural on the project page below.