Barton was commissioned by metro operator Nexus alongside three other artists to design artwork for the interior of 46 new metro carriages after winning a competition.
The project depicts local historic figures such as the 20th century suffragette Kathleen Brown and the founders of Newcastle’s Chinatown Koon Kiu Cheng and her husband Peter Cheng.
“There’s so many brilliant people in the North East, it was really hard just picking a few, but I decided to blend it together and get a group who were really important to different community groups,” said Barton.
She said the designs themselves were inspired from her background growing up in Benwell, Newcastle, as well as her Punjabi heritage.
“My mum was a seamstress, so I got exposed to lots of bright colours, sequins, and gold – but it’s also got that heritage of Pakistani truck art and things like that.”
The exhibition in the Baltic will also feature unique artworks for sale from local community and charitable organisations.
Barton explained: “It’s kind of part of that community building, because I feel this project is all about community, belonging and bringing people together.”