RESIDENTS at a charity run home in Bude were thrilled to find themselves suddenly all at sea, thanks to an imaginative art project that has brought the town’s beachfront right to their door.

The poorly used inner courtyard at the Abbeyfield House in Burn View has been transformed into Bude’s bustling seafront, complete with beach huts, cliffs, surfers and dog walkers.

Abbeyfield’s community engagement manager for Devon and Cornwall, Vicki Gillow, worked on the project with the help of volunteer, Martina Muller, a graphic designer from Switzerland, who enjoys her spare time helping out at the home.

Vicki, a professional artist, and Martina spent three days transforming the courtyard’s plain magnolia walls into two inspiring murals — one depicting a typical summer day at the seaside, and the other recreating the iconic Bude beach huts.

Lyn Orders, Abbeyfield’s senior house manager, helped develop the project with ideas and input from the home’s nine residents. She now plans to add to the seaside feel of the courtyard by installing various items collected from the beach, and the home’s dining room will also be redecorated with a coastal theme.

Vicki said: “The courtyard is so bright and happy now, and the residents and staff can see the beachfront mural as they sit as the dining room table. It’s just like being beside the sea.

“We’d like to say a huge thank you to our international volunteer, Martina, who’s helped put a smile on everyone’s faces.

“We’re hoping that the objects from the seaside will help bring back memories of beach combing, and we plan to encourage a memory journal made up of things like postcards and photos of holidays by the sea.”