Local artist unveils mural at Buttermarket's indoor beach

Why it matters: The mural forms the backdrop to The Beach at Buttermarket, the centre's free indoor summer attraction. The shopping centre is giving Ipswich shoppers and families a new seaside-themed space to enjoy throughout the school holidays.

The details: The 10x3-metre piece, painted freehand over the course of a week, features vibrant sea creatures and seagulls designed to bring the beach to life. Buttermarket says the mural doubles as a summer "selfie wall" for visitors.

For context: Buttermarket put out a social media call-out for a local artist to work on the community project. Maddie Willis, whose background spans oil painting, embroidery, drawing and visual documentation, got in touch to take part.

Following a site visit, Maddie sketched out her vision for the installation, which Buttermarket says met the brief "instantly".

What they're saying: Rebecca Bird, centre manager at the Buttermarket, said: "Maddie has been absolutely fantastic to work with from start to finish. She immediately understood exactly what the space needed and transformed our vision into something truly special. We couldn't be happier with the result – it's bright, engaging, and brings so much life to our indoor beach."

The bottom line: The Beach at Buttermarket is open daily from 10:00 to 16:00 until Sunday, 30 August, with free admission. Families can enjoy the giant sandpit and take a selfie in front of the new mural.

More of Maddie Willis's work can be found at www.madsart.co.uk or on Instagram @maddiewillisart.

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