Full Breakdown
Greenpeace Mural on Burned Conwy Hillside Sparks Local Backlash
8/22/2026, 1:02:20 AM
Core Event
In the aftermath of a major wildfire that scorched roughly 200 acres of land in Capelulo, Conwy, Greenpeace painted a 1,120-square-metre anti-oil mural on the blackened mountainside. The artwork depicted Prime Minister Andy Burnham holding an oil drum with the caption “Our house is on fire Andy.” Local residents, including Allie Evans and Dean Ward, later removed the paint with rakes, breaking it up and raking the flakes into the soil. Evans said some of the paint had baked onto the rock, leaving faint stripes that remain visible.
Background & Context
The wildfire, declared a major incident by North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, threatened homes and forced the evacuation of 36 houses. The blaze came within yards of residential properties, prompting residents to return to a dramatically altered landscape.
Key Figures & Groups
- Andy Burnham — Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, featured in the mural.
- Greenpeace UK — Environmental campaign group that created the mural.
- Allie Evans — Local hairdresser who helped remove the paint.
- Dean Ward – Resident who assisted in the removal and expressed “great pleasure” at taking it down.
- Janet Finch-Saunders – Senedd member for Bangor Conwy Môn, who called the work “environmental vandalism.”
- Areeba Hamid – Co-executive director of Greenpeace UK, defended the artwork’s design and intent.
Official Statements & Responses
- Areeba Hamid explained that the artwork was created with water-based paint commonly used on sports turf, described as safe for grass, plants and soil.
- Dean Ward posted online that he took “great pleasure” in removing the work, questioning Greenpeace’s claim of a “leave-no-trace” ethic.
Criticism & Opposition
Local residents expressed anger that the mural intruded on their grief. Evans described the painting as “disrespectful to the landscape” and an “insult to injury,” arguing that a banner could have conveyed the same message without staining rocks that are “millions of years old.” She also warned that the paint could attract more visitors, potentially trampling the fragile hillside.
Data & Statistics
- Wildfire area: ~200 acres (July).
- Homes evacuated: 36.
- Mural size: 1,120 sq m.
Timeline
- July – Wildfire burns ~200 acres, prompting evacuations.
- July (shortly after) – Greenpeace paints the mural on the scorched hillside.
- Following days – Residents Allie Evans and Dean Ward remove the paint; remnants remain visible.
Verbatim Quotes
What's Next
Greenpeace has indicated that the mural was “temporary by design,” but no further actions or follow-up campaigns have been announced. Local authorities have not indicated any plans to regulate future artistic interventions on wildfire-affected land.
