Haylee Fieldes and Mel McVee were commissioned to create two internal murals for the Cockburn ARC Recreation Centre, bringing colour, vibrancy and movement into one of Western Australia’s busiest community recreation centres. The artworks span the café and basketball court entry walls, forming a cohesive visual language that celebrates sport, energy and the unique natural environment of Cockburn.

Drawing on the ARC’s role as a place of motion, connection and community wellbeing, the artists developed a concept centred on the theme of Movement and Flow. Across each mural, abstracted sporting textures, including the bounce and arc of a ball, basketball dots and kinetic lines, are interwoven with the artists’ distinct styles. Haylee’s transparent black realist paintings of sporting equipment ground the artwork in place and assist with wayfinding, while Mel’s expressive botanical linework evokes the surrounding natural landscape. These elements combine with colour fields inspired by the ARC’s architectural palette, including carefully selected purples, oranges, blues and neutral tones that respond to the interior environment.

The main café wall forms the heart of the artwork, where layers of realism, abstraction and negative space create an uplifting contemporary composition. Flowing shapes, sporting equipment illustrations and local flora create a sense of dynamism that reflects the ARC’s wider purpose as a place where people gather to move, train, play and connect.

The basketball court entry wall extends this visual language into a more energetic composition. Here, the artists worked around existing architectural elements, including speakers and screens, while maintaining a strong, cohesive design presence. Bold abstract forms and sporting motifs create a sense of anticipation and momentum as visitors move toward the court spaces.

Across both murals, the collaboration emphasises cohesion and clarity of creative direction. Haylee developed the concept and overall design, integrating Mel’s linework with her realism to create a unified visual language across the two walls. Haylee, alongside painting assistants Sally Ridge and Blake Poole, delivered the murals over a ten-day installation period.

The completed Cockburn ARC murals bring warmth, character and contemporary energy to the building, enriching the daily experience for visitors, athletes, staff and the wider community.