A YOUNG Winsford artist has proved she’s no lightweight when it comes to talent.

Jade Oakes, of Swanlow Lane, has painted an impressive large-scale mural for the newly revamped New Era Boxing Club in Northwich.

The work features boxing champions and coaches such as Katie Taylor, Tyson Fury, Muhammad Ali, and Emanuel Steward, and fills an entire wall at the Queen Street venue.

And while she’s no stranger to painting murals, it’s the first time that the 20-year-old has worked at such a large scale.

Jade, who studied art at St Nicholas High School and Sixth Form in Northwich, was given a theme by club owner Mark Bebbington but was given full creative control of the project.

She said: “It’s been a massive opportunity of me. It was a little daunting at first as it was such a big project and it was a test of my skills to see if I could produce something on such a large scale. 

“Mark gave me a general idea of what he would like include, and when I ran my ideas past him, he really liked them and just trusted me to create it.”

The mural, which spans around 10 metres in width and three metres in height, took Jade around two months to complete and she fitted the project in around her part-time job with AO.com and caring for her great gran.

As well as featuring great amateur, British and world boxers and coaches, it also included club’s crest and motto Aut viam Inveniam aut faciam – which translates as ‘I shall either find a way or make one’.

The mural was unveiled when the club reopened after lockdown and Mark said he and members were hugely impressed.

Mark said: “It’s absolutely massive and makes a huge impression when you see it. It’s fantastic.

“Jade is a very talented artist. I came up with the themes around what I would like include, but it was all very much her creative vision.”

Northwich Guardian: Artist Jade Oakes with another of her mural commissions - this one was inspired by the theme 'tranquillity'.Artist Jade Oakes with another of her mural commissions - this one was inspired by the theme 'tranquillity'.


In addition to creating the mural for New Era Boxing Club, Jade has designed a turtle mural for Westwood Court Nursing Home and was given the theme ‘tranquillity’ which resulted in a beach-themed piece for a Vivo Care Home client.

She said: “It’s an absolute dream to be able to do this type of work, I really enjoy being creative and I’ve been so lucky to have had some many great opportunities like this – I’m very grateful.”

As well as murals, Jade also specialises in pet portraits and is currently taking Christmas commissions on her Facebook page @JadesMurals.