AROUND 100 people gathered outside a community shop to watch the unveiling of a new art installation.

Children from Coaley Primary Academy pulled down sheeting at Coaley Community Shop to reveal the completed mural, featuring animals, birds and flowers observed in the rural countryside.

The artwork is made of wood and metal, with the colours and textures altering in appearance as the light changes.

The weather was fine as the crowd waited in front of the plastic sheeting covering the whole of one side of the shop ahead of the unveiling on Saturday.

Brenda Board, chair of the Coaley Community Shop committee, praised the imagination and enthusiasm of local artist Abby Conway, who designed the mural.

“We are so lucky to have such a gifted artist living in the village, and someone who is prepared to give so much to the community,” she said.

Responding, Abby talked about how she drew her inspiration from the natural world.

“I was so pleased to be commissioned by the management committee, and it was a pleasure to work with them on this important project,” she said.

“This piece of art is a centrepiece for the whole village.”

The shop was built in 2021 by Abby’s husband, Steve Birkbeck, with help from many people from Coaley.