Artist defends 'unfinished' O'Sullivan mural

A Sheffield street artist named Chris Ashmore has defended his unfinished mural of snooker star Ronnie O Sullivan after receiving negative feedback. Ashmore was hired to paint the mural for the Spot On Snooker Club on Langsett Road. While some residents appreciated the artwork, others found it unsettling, describing it as "zombie-like" and giving O Sullivan's face a "skeletal" appearance.

Ashmore revealed that he had only completed two weeks of the five-week project and that touch-ups were still required. He attributed the project's unfinished state to working from a scaffolding platform, which limited his view and perspective of the mural. Ashmore emphasized that he prefers using a scissor lift for better visibility but was unable to do so due to the uneven land.

He acknowledged that the mural's mixed reactions included positive comments from some residents, such as Gillian Jones, who found it brightened her day, and Glen Bridock, who called it "brilliant." However, others, like Frank Short, pointed out that the eyes were incorrect, giving the artwork a "skeletal" appearance. Dan Kirkland, the manager of Spot On, expressed support for Ashmore's work and stated that minor adjustments could significantly improve the mural.

Ashmore has planned to hire a cherry picker to complete the job, but he is not willing to rush it, stating that he wants to finish it properly in his own time.