A massive art work will be created in Port St Mary in the coming months.

Residents, dog walkers, motorists and passers-by will witness the gradual creation of a marine-themed mural on the seaward side wall of the town hall.

The only hint something’s up is scaffolding there anyway to do repairs to the roof.

But the wall is now a huge canvass for artist Karolina Pawlowska, the young Polish artist, who is bravely climbing the scaffolding, paint brush in hand.

’The idea went both ways between me and the commissioners,’ she said. ’I had an idea about how to improve the island and make people happy.’

The commissioners identified the town hall as a suitable canvass and they agreed on a design, which they will fund along with the Arts Council.

Karolina’s work is aleady on view as she painted the loaghtan sheep in Castletown and a mural at Ellan Vannin care home, amongst others.

’This is the biggest,’ she said. ’It will be done free hand with my vision and skill. It won’t be easy but it will be fun.’

You need to be young to do it. ’I’ll go up and down to check perspective,’ said the 25-year-old. ’With the brain storm in my head I should be able to reach everything. It’s exciting. All I can say is it’s a sea topic, it’s a secret. That’s part of the fun.’

Adding to the fun is the weather. ’If it’s windy I don’t want to be blown off. It will be amazing to be up there. It’s more exciting because I look this way (young and slight), people don’t expect it.’

She’s delighted to be contributing to a village and an island her family have loved ever since they moved here from Warsaw five years ago

’We love it here. It’s a refreshing feeling to be around the sea, and it’s beautiful. Life and work.

’The mural is a transformation, there has not been a lot of change in Port St Mary. I’m part of the change. It’s great to be from a different country, the island has been really well for me, it’s so good to give something back from my heart. It’s amazing to have my fingerprint, as a foreigner giving back.

’We have always felt as a family well treated, it feels good to give something back.’