Chagford Primary School teachers surprised the pupils this half-term with a brand new mural decorating the school hall.

Artist Anna Higgie, whose past clients include Vanity Fair Paris, Penguin Books and organisers of the Green Man Festival, offered to design the mural at a greatly reduced rate and spent four days painting the mural freehand over the Christmas holidays.

Teachers say the children were delighted to see the mural on their return to school and that it has sparked a great deal of discussion over favourite colours, shapes and images.

Headteacher Ed Finch, said: ’I didn’t want to tell the children just in case it didn’t go ahead so it was a great surprise for them when they returned from Christmas.

’It’s beautiful and it’s huge. [Anna] is a remarkable artist and we were very lucky to have her. One parent knew her and suggested she ask Anna if she would like to do it.’

The mural is painted with Dartmoor-inspired colours and is composed of abstract shapes overlaid with three bounding hares, representing the governing body for Chagford Primary, North Tawton Primary and South Tawton Primary, known as the Three Hares Hub. The hub is part of the Dartmoor Multi Academy Trust which runs the school.

The mural has been a long time in the running.

Mr Finch said: ’Some time ago before the pandemic a group of parents held an auction of promises to fund this. They sold all sorts of things.

’The new school building, it’s a beautiful building but the walls are quite plain so the mural makes it feel really special. It will be there for many years to come.’