Mural of town's 'beautiful spirit' to be unveiled

KB Designs consisting of Kirsty and Brittany (pictured) have helped create a different mural for the festival, on Great Colman Street

One of the biggest murals in the East of England is being painted, depicting a town's "beautiful spirit" as part of a wider event.

The Wild Walls Festival is taking place in Ipswich for four weeks and offers a number of new street artworks, as well as several workshops and a virtual reality exhibition.

Work on a 576 sq m (6,200 sq ft) mural, believed to be one of the largest in the region, is under way at Ipswich Waterfront.

Artist ATMA said the work, titled From Ipswich with Love, would showcase the town.

One of the new large-scale murals that has already appeared, depicting a lady bird

"[It is] like a love letter from Ipswich to the world," the artist from London said.

"The mural showcases the beautiful spirit of Ipswich: creative, loving, open, forward-thinking.

"Also, considering Ipswich as one of the most ancient towns in the UK, and at the opening to the sea, the mural will include details and references I hope people will enjoy discovering."

ATMA's mural has been painted on the University of Suffolk building, the James Hehir Building, on Neptune Quay.

It will be unveiled at the start of the festival.

Buttermarket's steps have been painted an array of colours for the festival

Another large mural depicting a ladybird has been painted by artist Woskerski at the back of Ashstons Legal's building.

It can be viewed from Portman Road.

"The goal of the mural and the surreal style of my work is not only to make people smile, but to also make them stop and try to interpret the art in their own way," the artist explained.

"A cute ladybird makes people smile, and when you look closer, you realise some of its spots are missing.

"Instead, you have members of the community make their own mark on the ladybird's shell, which can also be seen as them making a difference."

Viking Aquatics has been given an on-theme brush of colour as part of the festival

Other large-scale murals can be found at the rear entrance of The Hold near the Waterfront and opposite Slog & Hustle on Great Colman Street.

Other smaller pieces can be found at Viking Aquatics on St Margaret's Street, at Music World on Queen Street, and at other locations across the town.

The festival, which runs until 5 October, is a collaboration of Art Eat Events CIC and The Subversiv Collective.

Ipswich Borough Council, Ipswich Central, Arts Council of England, the University of Suffolk and others have supported the event.

The Music World shop in Ipswich has been painted by Catalina Carvajal as part of the festival