Artist creates Sheeran shopping centre mural

Keith Hopewell said that by Tuesday he had spent about seven hours on the mural (pictured when it was still a work-in-progress) and "we're almost there"

An artist has paid tribute to musician Ed Sheeran as he created a mural of him in a shopping centre.

Keith Hopewell, from Suffolk, is spending four days painting the mural in the Buttermarket in Ipswich town centre.

Sheeran, who grew up in the county, is scheduled to play three homecoming gigs at Portman Road Stadium in Ipswich on 11, 12 and 13 July.

Mr Hopewell said: "He has so much respect within the local community. They see him as a big role model and icon."

The completed mural, part of the Business Improvement District's Paint the Town Pink campaign, is at the centre's entrance off Buttermarket

With the work due to be completed on Friday, the artist said there had been some challenges to getting it done.

"All this really hard sunlight comes down on it, it's really hard to paint with these hard shadows," he said.

"It's like being under a greenhouse in this glass ceiling."

Despite this, he said it was great to be able to pay tribute to the musician and create a work the community could enjoy.

The artwork was commissioned by the shopping and leisure centre, while the artist was selected by Art Eat Events.

The Buttermarket has also recently hosted the Call Me Ted exhibition of matchday posters from Ipswich Town's 2024-25 season.