Participatory primary school murals .
In partnership with Wolsey 550, Lily worked with eight primary schools across Ipswich to co-create a series of colourful community murals. Working with pupils from Year 2 to Year 6, each project began with creative workshops where students shared their ideas, stories, and inspirations. These ideas formed the foundations of the final mural designs, ensuring the artwork genuinely reflected the voices of the children involved.
The pupils then played an active role in bringing the murals to life, helping to paint sections of the final pieces and seeing their ideas transformed into large-scale public artwork. More than just a mural project, the initiative celebrated creativity, collaboration, and the importance of young people feeling seen, heard, and valued within their school communities. Through colour, storytelling, and collective making, the murals left a lasting impact on both the schools and the children who helped create them.
St Matthews primary school
Working with Year 5 and Year 6 pupils, this project began with a series of creative workshops exploring ideas for an imaginative and immersive library space. Inspired by a love of reading and centred around a Dr. Seuss quote, the children envisioned a vibrant jungle-themed environment that would spark curiosity and encourage young imaginations to flourish.
The final mural was hand-painted freehand using emulsion paint and brushes, with pupils returning to help bring sections of the design to life. By involving the children throughout both the design and painting process, the finished mural became a true reflection of their creativity and ownership of the space.
Moorlands Primary School
This colourful corridor mural was developed in collaboration with Year 3 and Year 4 pupils through a series of creative workshops exploring the school's core values, including love, compassion, forgiveness and perseverance. Alongside these values, the children shared their favourite aspects of school life, which were woven into the final design to create a mural that celebrates both the school's ethos and its community.
Following the workshops, pupils helped paint sections of the mural themselves, transforming their ideas into a vibrant artwork that now brightens the everyday school environment while celebrating the voices of the children who helped create it..
Rose Hill Primary School
Created in partnership with Year 3 and Year 4 pupils, this library mural was inspired by the children's vision for a bold, bright and welcoming reading space. Through a series of workshops, pupils shared ideas centred around colour, imagination and the joy of books, resulting in a vibrant rainbow-inspired design featuring the school's name alongside illustrated books representing both the school's values and the children's favourite things about school.
The pupils then joined the mural painting process, helping transform their ideas into a colourful space designed to inspire creativity, encourage reading and create a library that truly belongs to its school community.
