Street Fairy Project

'A symbol for the belief in change'

The Street Fairy symbolises the power we can manifest from within to make change happen. Supporting ways to turn fear to empowerment, negative energy to positive, suffering to wellbeing through the process of making art.

The projects focus will be on gifting individials opportunities to engage with arts processes as a way of communicating their expressive visual language, with no barriers, making accessible the freedom to create art both for themselves and others. 

  “It’s sad to think even at the present day, women cannot go out and return home without the fear of being molested. It seems to me highly necessary to discuss the subject from all sides and find it both possible to find a preventative and a remedy today”

Womenhood Magazine 1898

 

 

A brief history of the Street Fairy

 

'When Stephanie heard about the murder of Sarah Everard, she decided she had to take action. Here, she writes about her powerful street fairies campaign, which has inspired dialogue up and down the country' Small but powerful, Grout Magazine 2021(British Association for Modern Mosaic, BAMM)

 

I remembered I had once made a little fairy from similar off-cuts from my studio floor. She was a metaphor for the transferal of negative energy, into positive affirmations. An image of self being free from the constraints of negative thought and situations.

 

This character seemed appropriate in this new landscape of insecurity faced by individuals in public spaces, I started to make more similar styled fairies.

 

My personal response to the murder of Sarah Everard in March 2021, by a Police officer.

 

I walked the length of Newport observing and placing these fairy’s in places I new, I and others had I been unsafe. I posted my walk thoughts and actions on social media. 

 

Many women, fathers and husbands requested a #streetfairy.

 

'While making these fairies, I felt I was in conversation or responding with those individuals who have been in unsafe situations or felt unsafe, myself included. I posed each winged character carefully - either offering flowers as a gesture of care, suggesting the enchantment of wellbeing or offering a hand of support, pathway to freedom. '

 

Personal stories of incidents were shared with me, seemingly as an open opportunity to obtain "permission to address", to share their personal moments of fear. The Street Fairies seemingly became symbols of empowerment for women, "street guardians" with each individual using them as a catalyst to start to heal or psychologically change the energy of spaces. 

 

“The fairies gave women a sense of positive action by ”revisit(ing) and alter(ing) the space”.  Memories were being challenged and confronted.

 

The Street Fairy's innocent visual appearance, have allowed women to reclaim a childlike, honest approach to a fearful subject, that allows to reclaim a part of themselves or place.

 

Women were transferring a conceptualised power onto them, fairies contain a historical sense of mischief and magical powers combined, we see maybe why the Street Fairy's are so enchanting and engaging as an image.

 

They have been a great reminder of the power of street art - making connection and being together in the moment of creating together.

 

Celebrating a perfect partnership

The Street Fairy Project is now delighted to be working together in partnership with Homewards Newport, through The Royal Foundation, to improve lives of those experiencing disadvantage and social exclusion in Newport. The partnership with a enable a greater reach and involve a wider audience. 

 

Homewards

Homewards has one goal: to demonstrate that it’s possible to end homelessness – making it rare, brief and unrepeated.

Launched in June 2023 by Prince William and The Royal Foundation of the Prince and Princess of Wales, Homewards aim is for the Homewards locations to be on a path towards ending homelessness for good.

 

Active supporters 

The Riverfront Theatre and Art Centre - Workshops @The Big Splash 2025

Women of Newport  Associated support 2025

 

 'I really applaud your efforts to make a safer community / world for women as we know it’s a Global issue, and awareness is key to change. I would love one of your fairies.'

“from little seeds big acorns grow “ Sue, California