Mr Peet was in Orange on Friday and Saturday to teach street art to students and beautify the once-sparse Glenroi Oval into a place where children want to spend time. 

The initiative is part of Orange City Council’s plan to give the oval a facelift with $100,000 worth of upgrades such as a skate park, bike path, bubbler and shelter. 

With the help of Glenroi children, Mr Peet created a masterpiece on the walls of the shelter.

Hugh said he was impressed.

“I like the colours of it and the blending and I learnt all the different techniques,” he said. 

“It’s to inspire people not to draw on it ... to respect the space.”

Hugh said principal Chad Bliss had spoken with students and would give them permission to create their own street art masterpiece on the walls of the school.

“It gives us a good reputation and shows we’ve been doing good stuff,” he said. 

Hugh wanted to inspire other students to learn that graffiti does not have to be destructive, rather, it could be an example of talent and demonstrate a person’s pride in their surroundings. 

Council recreation planner Shahreen Alford said the project was designed to make the oval a safe and fun place for children to go with their bikes and younger siblings. 

“We want to make it a better place to be, to make it good again,” she said. 

“It’s their space and it is an opportunity to take pride in their area.”

Mr Peet said he had been impressed by the attitude of the students who had attended the workshops on Friday and the children who helped him create the artwork on Saturday. 

“I want to get young people interested in art and show that there can be a career in it,” he said. 

nicole.kuter@fairfaxmedia.com.au