Beach scene chalk drawings inspired by Hemi And The Whale took over a stretch of concrete in Grey Street this weekend.

The public art pop-up event attracted participants from around Tauranga to come and colour in beach scenes using chalk, in a series inspired by NZ children's books with local connections.

Last year in July, Lillybeth Melmoth won first place equal for Best Idea at the ‘Love Your City' workshop held with visiting speaker Peter Kageyama. Her concept was to turn Tauranga into a giant colouring book.

From that beginning, Lillybeth was able to secure further sponsorship so she and her team could run a series of public chalk art events. The theme for this weekend was inspired by the book ‘Hemi And The Whale' written by Ron Bacon, and the drawings appeared between Paper Plus and Ignition on Saturday afternoon.

"We came to the last Chalk City event,” says Chris Mitchell, while drawing with his son Conor. 'Conor loves his art so we're here.”

Hemi.

Prior to the start of the event, a chalk outline was painted on the pavement opposite Books A Plenty. The public were invited to finish the artwork and colour it in with chalk.

There were also book readings of the feature book, sticker giveaways and spot prizes for participating, followed by a grand prize for the ‘longest colourer'.

Organiser Lillybeth Melmoth says she was really impressed with how long the children stayed and coloured in.

'We've given out some great spot prizes from Books A Plenty, Robert Harris, Three Little Whimzee and Lily's Gifts.”

The next Colouring Book C.I.T.Y event is planned for April 21 which will decorate the pavement near the Dance-O-Mat on The Strand.

The theme will be a rare 1980's children's book ‘Hemi Dances' by Ron Bacon and illustrated by Pyes Pa artist Sharon O'Callaghan, with the drawings featuring bush frogs, insects, pukekos, eels and New Zealand bush scenes.