Hands Around Huyton is a public art trail created by artist Martin Heron and commissioned by Knowsley Council.
It includes 12 bronze casts showing the hands of local people holding objects that connect to Huyton. Around each cast is a decorative pattern that is a secret code. These codes were inspired by public casting workshops held in Huyton in June 2024. Participants suggested making a trail with a puzzle that families could solve together as part of the artwork.
Each cast tells a personal story connected to Huyton. Together, they share the town’s rich social, cultural and historical identity. The project celebrates the people, events and businesses that have helped shape Huyton.
Crack the code
We invite you to scan the QR code on each work. This will take you to an online index that will help decode each symbol in the cipher, which will reveal more about each cast. Can you follow the Huyton trail and decipher all 12 casts?
About the artist
Martin Heron is an internationally renowned artist based in Northern Ireland. He studied in Liverpool for many years and has strong links to the area.
He creates imaginative major public artworks ranging from large-scale gateway sculptures to public art trails.
Martin’s work is shaped by the places it's created in, often inspired by local history, geography and the people who live there. He focuses on making art that connects with communities and tells meaningful stories about place.
