Nature mural drawing praise from all round

A mural depicting the natural beauty of the Pilbara has been erected in the Karratha city centre.

Featuring the red hills, kangaroos and local plants, the artwork at Walgu Park was painted by Perth artist Hellen Ansell and artist-in-residence Carrie McDowell.

The mural was approved by the City of Karratha in July and was designed by 14 Cheeditha artists with consultation from Ansell.

Work started on the project on October 24 and took place over four days.

Ansell said she spent a week going through design development workshops with local painters.

“It’s local themes — local flora and fauna — and I think that it’s something that all people, especially the traditional owners, will recognise what it is and the story behind it,” she said.

“It’s been really a privilege for me to come up here and to meet the artists and to hear their stories and to help them to put their artwork on the wall for everyone to be able to see.”

Ansell said the work was designed to fit the location and match the colours of the landscape and the Red Earth Arts Precinct opposite it.

She said local residents had come up and spoken to them while they were painting.

“A lady said to us she was thinking about coming here for a picnic before, and now that she’s seen the mural, and it’s kind of brightened up the whole area and made it a lot more inviting,” she said.