14 August 2026, Issue 1323
Millie’s murals The Weekend Sun readers may recognise Millie Pidwell, pictured, from sitting crossed-legged in front of blank walls around the district. “That’s how I sit for a lot of my work.” Pidwell has just marked being a fulltime muralist for three years, using her
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talent for painting to breathe life and spirit into many Bay of Plenty schools and businesses and brought to life public art projects. “I’ve been creating for my whole life,” said Pidwell, who was snapped painting at age 2.
The first mural Pidwell painted as a professional was a smaller scale, interactive piece created 11 years ago with graphic designer Tara Fowler known as ‘Wings to Fly’. It had become an iconic photo backdrop along The Strand in Tauranga CBD.
Since then, Pidwell slowly honed her craft and today has painted murals across the region. “I just want to keep painting meaningful work for communities and keep doing what I do. I just love it.” Read more on pages 14-15. Photo / Kelly O’Hara