Timaru will soon be a little brighter when a trio of New Zealand artists, including Hayley King- aka Flox- paint murals on some of the walls in the town centre. Pictured, from left, are Josh Newlove, Lynne Kerr, and Ash Ronald.

After many years, a local group's dream of Timaru becoming a centre of street art is finally being taken from conception to reality - and the group is launching the long term project with one of the best in the business.

Timaru's resident advocates of street art, Alive Vibrant Timaru and the Timaru Civic Trust, have officially organised their first project - three murals - with one to be painted by renowned Kiwi artist Hayley King, aka Flox​.

Flox​ is one of New Zealand's most respected and current artists, with her portrayal of Kiwi flora, fauna, and birds, gaining both national and international recognition.

JOHN BISSET/STUFF Alive Vibrant Timaru's Josh Newlove, left, Ash Ronald, right, and Timaru Civic Trust's Lynne Kerr, centre, are hopeful the murals will inspire more businesses to get involved in the street art scene.

"Anyone can tag a building, but art comes from artists," Josh Newlove​ said.

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"Street art has taken over the world. It adds quite an aesthetic value to the town," trust member Lynne Kerr said.

Getting Flox​ and two other top New Zealand artists involved was the group's main focus, as they believed it might inspire others in the community to get involved.

"For some people, this will be their first introduction to street art," Kerr said.

The murals will be painted onto three walls on buildings within the central business district (CBD). The group is currently confirming the third wall, but have chosen the other two.

One mural will be on a wall at Community House, where the Farmers' market is held; and Flox​ will be painting hers on the former National Bank of New Zealand building on Stafford St.

"The public can come down and view the process," Kerr said.

"We're not sure how the artists will do it. It's pretty exciting."

Each mural will have a distinct South Canterbury flair, which was part of the brief for the artists, Newlove​ said.

As for the idea of the murals, the idea came about when the group "changed tack", moving its focus away from a festival, and onto something that could be done soon.

"From the beginning, we were a bit ambitious; over-ambitious," Newlove​ said.

Funding-wise, the group was sorted for the project, having enough money to cover the three walls and container.

The container - or rather the canvas that is on it - is something the community can get involved in.

"It's a portable wall, and the community can have a go painting on it," Ash Ronald said.

"Everyone will get something out of it," Newlove​ said.

The group was now focussed on getting as many businesses, local artists, and school students involved as possible, as the local element had been deemed important.

"We do think they've [local artists] got a lot to offer," Kerr said.

They were also grateful to the 20-30 businesses which had got involved, even before the project began, and the help of the Timaru community in general.

"Community events always get supported by local businesses," Newlove said.

"It's one of the great things about here."

The community will also benefit from the street art in other ways, as like Dunedin and Christchurch, the colour and artwork will help attract the attention of more tourists.

"Visitors to town will have another thing to wander down the streets for," Ronald said.

Flox​ will arrive in Timaru on September 14, and will spend five days painting her mural. A team of Ara Institute of Canterbury students will also be giving a helping hand to prepare the wall for painting.

The other two artists are expected to arrive sometime in October.