Over the two-day event, 120 students used crayons and paintbrushes to contribute to a combined mural that will be displayed at the university.

For many students it was their first foray into the artistic world.

The event allowed people without artistic experience to visually convey their feelings, ideas and personalities.

The first event of the ‘Big Draw’ called ‘Artist Under Glass’, allowed participants to watch talented painter Jonathon Larson at work as he answered questions and gave budding artists advice.

“Yesterday I drew in the foyer as people observed - it felt more like a fishbowl with everybody peering in at me,” he said.

Mr Larson also assisted students at the ‘Big Draw’ the following day, when drawing paper was unrolled along the UNE’s central courtyard and all were encouraged to get their creative juices flowing by contributing a drawing to the large paper.

Visual arts lecturer and organiser, Francis Alter said she had taken inspiration for the project from a similar event in the UK and was thrilled with its success.

“It started off in the UK in schools, libraries and universities and it has become international,” Dr Alter said.

“I hope this will become an annual event at UNE - it’s a bit of a social experiment this time, but I’m happy with how it has gone,” she said.

While most of the participants were from schools and universities, the drawing actually started with the input of local preschool kids.

“The children are usually not as inhibited about art - they love drawing to communicate their ideas,” she said.

Dr Alter was also very pleased with the support she had for the event.

“Jonathon Larson is an established artist so we are fortunate to have him here with us,” she said.

Participants Jasmine Hutchinson and Natarsha Carney said the event had given them the opportunity to discover creative talents they didn’t know they had.

“It doesn’t matter what degree you’re studying - you can still be creative and have fun,” Jasmine said.