A colourful new public mural has been unveiled on an exterior wall of Dissenters Hall in Sidmouth.
It is a collaboration between artist Sophie Larter and various community groups who use the venue.
The mural is visible from the town's high street, with the aim of delighting locals, tourists and users of the Unitarian Chapel, Annie Leigh Browne room, and Dance Studio at Dissenters.
The creation of the mural is documented in a short film available to view online.
The artwork was commissioned by the Trustees of Dissenters Hall, who turned to Sophie Larter and the Sidmouth Coastal Community Hub and Sidmouth School of Art for their artistic expertise.
The trustees envisaged a lasting piece that would encapsulate the essence of the Peace Garden.
A number of free workshops were organised where participants could learn painting and designing skills.
Ms Larter and artistic director Coco Hodgkinson oversaw the artistic process, and the artwork was painted onto the newly rendered wall of the Peace Garden over the course of eight days.
It was created through a collaborative process with the venue's regular visitors, resulting in a reflection of their ideas and thoughts.
The artist has brought together these ideas to narrate a tale of the people and place's past, present and future.
It features a range of colours, words, symbols and shapes that represent empowerment and differences.
The mural also pays homage to Sidmouth suffragists Annie Leigh Browne, her sister Thomasina Mary and Mary Stewart Kilgour, who are depicted as the central stencilled characters.
The women are viewed as role models who were social reformers and campaigners for women's education, and had an instrumental impact on Sidmouth.
The mural also depicts a journey from the Byes along the River Sid to the sea, illustrating the strong connection with nature and nearby areas.
Representations of hope and unity in the artwork are symbolised by an olive branch and a rainbow.
Two doves, emblems of peace, bear the phrase 'Wonderful Wednesdays'.
This reflects the welcoming space of Oasis Café, a volunteer-run service every Wednesday at the Dissenters that offers companionship and assistance to the elderly, as well as a respite from loneliness within the community.
The mural was unveiled at a celebration event on May 3 that included performances by the Sid Vale Choir, Lesley Emery and jazz music from Blue Honey.
On-going support for the project is provided by the Arts Council England and the Creative East Devon Fund, along with local authorities and other local donors.
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