Colourful mural captures essence of Albany life

When budding Perth artist Hunter Smith thinks about Albany, the first thing that comes to mind is the city’s colourful coastline.

The 20-year-old has captured her personal experience of Albany on the wall of Albany Gardens Tourist Park reception.

The 2m long mural depicts a colourful view over the Port of Albany to the Vancouver Peninsula.

From pesky seagulls trying to steal fish and chips to the controversial ruby seadragon on the CBH silos, it is unmistakably Albany.

Putting her paintbrush to work last week, Smith finished the mural at the weekend and hopes it will bring joy to visitors and locals.

“I’m family friends with the managers of the caravan park. They approached me a little while ago and said they’d love to have a mural in their office to try and capture the spirit and essence of Albany,” she said.

“I thought, what’s the first thing I think of when I think about Albany? I wanted to capture the town, fish and chips, natural landscape, hikes and the environment.”

The mural was Smith’s first commercial commissioned piece, but its bold colour palette stays true to her typical “colourful and fun” work.

“I’ve always wanted to be an artist,” she said.

“Upon finishing school I decided to take risk and do the thing that I love, and it’s worked out well so far.”

Smith, who has been working in her own practice for three years now, is studying fine art at the University of WA and will be involved in an art show set for December and January in Perth.

She said she hoped there would be more opportunities down the line for her to add a splash of colour around Albany.