A DRAB, grey wall has been transformed into a colourful display of bees and bugs thanks to a talented artist.

Rachel Shepherd, 39, was spurred into action because she was fed up seeing an ugly wall in the playground of the Ashingdon School each time she picked up her ten-year-old daughter Ellie.

Hearing that the Royal Bank of Scotland offered grants for community projects, she applied and was given enough money to buy paint for a giant mural.

Three months on, the 24ft by 8ft work of art is complete.

Mrs Shepherd, of Canewdon Road, Ashingdon, said: “It wasn’t a very nice wall for the children to look at every day so I thought I would cheer it up a bit. The children decided what they wanted on the wall and once I had the school’s permission and the grant from RBS I got to work.

“It took 115 hours of work. I did each of the six panels in my lounge. It took time, but it was worth it.”