Come on in my friend is a striking new mural, created by artist Jemima Spence, tributing the people of Buttershaw and its community.

Come on in my friend is part of BD: Walls, a collection of new street art commissioned by Bradford 2025 for walls across Bradford District – paying vibrant tribute to our heritage while celebrating our dynamic street art culture.

The mural reflects the warm, welcoming nature of the café and its frontman, Saif, whose signature phrase, “my friend,” is embedded in the artwork and inspired its name.

The central female figure is inspired by Andrea Dunbar, a significant voice in Buttershaw’s history. Kat Martin, a current writer and actor from Wibsey, posed for Jemima as a loose reference for the piece, making the figure also symbolise the women of the area today.

The spirit of childhood in the area is captured through the young boy, symbolising the boys in the area who get out by riding their bikes and play pool together before school, rather than staying indoors on tablets.

The Shire horse reflects the multiple fields of horses in the area, as well as Buttershaw’s historic links to the traveling community. While local landmarks like Buttershaw Mills, neighbourhood shops, and Wibsey Park connect the mural to its surroundings.

The swan in the piece represents Wibsey Park but also carries the sentiment shared by residents to Jemima when visiting: “We’ve taken you under our wing, we do that here.”

Jemima is a figurative painter / mural artist based in Leeds. Her work focuses on portraits and figures that explore everyday human character and emotion. Drawn to texture and earthy colours, her work balances traditional painting with modern
techniques and a DIY approach, often experimenting with found materials, and mixing her colours as she goes when working outside. She exhibits her works on canvas and completes commissions in the studio, while taking on community projects and mural work during the warmer months.

For more information, visit Jemimas’s website.