Case study
River Lea Art Trail Bench Protection
Anti-graffiti coating protects a community-led open-air gallery of upcycled benches and provides a controlled route for tackling early tags.
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- Client
- East Herts Council / Jade Dawn
- Location
- River Lea towpath, Hertford–Ware
- Sector
- Public Art
- Solution
- Permanent Anti-Graffiti Coating
The project
The requirement
The River Lea Art Trail bench protection programme helps an open-air gallery of upcycled furniture stay accessible, functional and easier to maintain. Led by artist and project manager Jade Dawn with East Herts Council, the project brought local artists together to transform tired benches along the towpath between Hertford and Ware.
Ware Men’s Shed repaired and reinstalled the benches, while the artists created individual designs inspired by the river’s wildlife, heritage and surrounding landscape. Urban Hygiene Anti-Graffiti Coating was then used to protect the painted timber slats against tagging and day-to-day exposure in a busy public setting.
Project sources: read Jade Dawn’s project story, the East Herts Council launch release, the River Lea Art Trail guide and watch the ITV News Anglia feature shared by the project team. Project imagery courtesy of Jade Dawn.
- 9
- benches installed at launch
- 11
- planned trail total
- 31 May 2026
- official trail opening
01 Challenge
What had to be solved
The project set out to turn worn riverside furniture into bold, functional public art without losing its everyday purpose. Because the benches sit outdoors on a popular towpath, the finished designs also needed protection from handling, weather and deliberate defacement.
Removing paint or marker directly from decorated timber can lift the artist’s work as well as the unwanted mark. A clear protective layer was therefore needed to separate future graffiti from the original painted surface and give the maintenance team a controlled cleaning route.
02 Solution
How the system was applied
Jade Dawn proposed and managed the trail with East Herts Council, selecting and coordinating local artists while Ware Men’s Shed repaired the benches and supported installation. Funding and support came from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, Hertfordshire County Council and project partners.
After the individual artworks were completed, the painted wooden slats were protected with Urban Hygiene Anti-Graffiti Coating. The clear, permanent coating is compatible with timber and existing painted finishes and creates a cleanable barrier over the artwork without hiding the colour or detail beneath.
03 Result
What changed
The River Lea Art Trail opened on 31 May 2026 with nine decorated benches installed between Hertford and Ware and two further benches planned, taking the intended total to 11. The project manager reported a strong public response and shared coverage from ITV News Anglia.
After installation, the project team reported that two benches had been defaced with small name tags believed to have been applied with nail varnish. This is the coating’s first reported live maintenance test on the trail. The completed clean-down has not yet been verified, so no removal result is claimed here.
Recommended first response for the reported tags
- Start with Graffiti Wipes for small, fresh marks. Wear gloves, patch-test an inconspicuous coated area and work gently, allowing a brief dwell before wiping with a clean section and finishing with a damp cloth.
- Escalate to Graffiti Remover Spray if the suspected nail varnish is stubborn or aged. Follow the product label and safety data sheet for PPE, dwell time and rinsing.
- Avoid aggressive abrasion. Do not use abrasive pads on the artwork. Stop if original colour transfers or the finish changes, and contact Urban Hygiene for technical advice.
This case study will be updated if the project team supplies verified before-and-after cleaning evidence.
Site record
Application gallery
Customer view
I’m incredibly excited to see my vision for the River Lea Art Trail come to life after months of hard work.
Products used
The system behind the result
Need help choosing the right coating, remover or project quantity? Our technical team can specify the complete system.
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