Praise for artwork adding splash of colour to toilet

Artist Anna Wheelhouse said the response from the community had been "really lovely"

New artwork has added a splash of colour to a public toilet block in a town in Nottinghamshire.

A waterfall surrounded by greenery now adorns the site in Main Street, Kimberley, and has been praised by residents.

It was created by community artist Anna Wheelhouse, who said she was commissioned by Kimberley Town Council to create the piece following previous work she had completed in Eastwood.

She described the response as "really lovely" and added: "It kind of blends into the background a little bit more."

The revamped toilet block features a gushing waterfall amid greenery

Ms Wheelhouse started painting murals in friends' gardens during the Covid pandemic and interest in her work has continued since then.

"From that it just blew up, and I've been doing it constantly since, which is lovely - I'm very lucky to be busy," she said.

"I've had so many pips [from drivers] and bus drivers stopping and shouting at me saying well done, and the community have been absolutely lovely."

Joanne Mills said the design was more pleasant than the original bricks

Joanne Mills, who runs the Post Office branch over the road from the block, said: "I think it's absolutely fantastic, isn't it? It blends so nicely into the background.

"It just looked a little bit plain and just your standard toilet area, not necessarily very welcoming, but it's really spruced it up and brought a bit of character to the area."

Will Watson, who works at a nearby estate agent and offered Ms Wheelhouse refreshments while she carried out her commission, added: "It was just a brick wall before, I didn't think it would turn out as nice, but it's really enhanced that area."

Ellie Clarke, 21, who also works as an estate agent, said she thought the mural "is really lovely".

"You don't realise how much of a difference these things actually make until it's all done," she said.

The public toilets were previously undecorated