An Axminster resident who is frustrated with the town’s decline is proposing an art project as a springboard towards further regeneration.

Bernice Selvey, a retired businesswoman who lives on one of the main roads into Axminster, is offering the large wall outside her property as a blank canvas for a piece of community art.

Bernice’s wall was recently daubed with graffiti, contributing to the run-down look of the town. But rather than joining the chorus of complaints about petty crime and vandalism in Axminster, Bernice wants to inspire people to turn things around.

She feels that there is a general mood of apathy and negativity which could be reversed if local individuals, businesses and other organisations began focusing on positive solutions and working together to make them happen.

For example, she would like to see the larger empty shops rented out to several small traders, and local groups – including young people - getting involved in initiatives to give the town a more vibrant look.

Bernice's experience of 'wall art' success

The idea of the mural on her wall is based on her experience as director of the Shoreditch Art Project in London in 2012. At the time Bernice and her husband ran a business from a site incorporating a brick wall across five railway arches, which was covered in graffiti.

A suggestion from her brother, visiting from the US, inspired Bernice to invite local artists to create a more attractive display.

She said: “The wall was used for half advertising and half charity, as the first paid for the second. 

“The art was always bright and vibrant in subject and colour, everyone that walked past stopped and took pictures. I could see that no matter what the subject was they smiled, even if the subject was not to their interest - it was the vibrancy and positivity that stood out to them. Rather than a blank wall there was something to look at, and the art brightened up a whole area of a main road.

“I had a number of people come into the building to compliment us on the work and how it was a lovely project especially promoting charities such as The Paralympics, Lord Bates’ ‘Walk for Peace’, and many more.”

She would now like to see a similar initiative in Axminster, and is inviting local art schools, youth groups and creative-minded individuals to come forward with ideas for her wall.

Bernice said: “I would like to encourage artists to express life and their vision through the power of art in order to make people stop and look at their surroundings and community in which we live in a positive manner.”

If anyone is interested in getting involved the Axminster 'wall art' project, contact philippa.davies@newsquestco.uk and I will forward your details to Bernice.