More murals appear in Ashford town for UNFRAMED arts trail
16:29, 16 March 2023
updated: 09:52, 24 March 2023
A huge town centre mural of a deer covered in roses is bringing joy to shoppers and residents.
The impressive painting in Ashford, which also includes a pheasant, shows the majestic creature standing in a field of orange and yellow.
It has been created on the side of Bucksford Law, in Bank Street, by Curtis Hylton who has been using a platform as he works.
The piece, believed to be titled Flamboyant Fawn, has already attracted lots of attention, with people on Facebook describing it as "fantastic" and "amazing".
Commenting on the social media site, one user added: "Stunning. Brilliantly done."
Another said: "Love this. Looks amazing."
It is one of 16 art projects destined for Ashford in a bid to "improve the look of drab walls".
Another mural in St Johns Lane passageway, by the Vicarage Lane car park, shows a kingfisher with a bolt in its beak, alongside a second bird.
Titled "Workers of the World", it has been created by an artist known as Aspire, who worked on the piece for three and a half days.
It's close to another finished piece by Charley Peters, which shows a collection of colourful arrows.
The arts project, set up by Ashford Borough Council, is called UNFRAMED, with all 16 individual projects due to be finished by the Easter holidays.
They will form part of an arts trail around the town.
Danielle Williamson, the director of craftshop Made in Ashford, has also started work on her piece near the entrance to the Vicarage Lane Car Park.
It appears to show Ashford landmarks including the tank, the Hurbert fountain in Victoria Park, and the Willesborough Windmill.
A massive drawing has already been completed on the side of the Edinburgh Road car park by famous artist Mr Doodle.
The 16m by 10m piece was the first to be started, and has been titled Concrete Cluster.
Another artist to take part is sculptor Alex Chinneck, who previously turned part of the former Kent Wool Growers site into a zip.
Students from Ashford College will also be able to make their mark on the town with a mural in Station Approach and Station Road.
Tiny Dog and The London Mural Company have already finished their installations at Coachworks in Dover Place.
Further down Bank Street, Andy Welland is working on his piece titled "Loose Ends 206" on the wall next to Bright City Church.
The start of another mural called “Good Fortune” has appeared on a boarded up shop in the high street.
The leaping hare, which is a collaboration between artists Ellie Fryer x KOMPLY, is starting to take shape on the premises in Middle Row, near St Mary's Church.
This piece was not part of the festival's original plans but bosses say the murals have had such a good response, they have added two more to the programme upping the total from the original 14 to 16.
Visitors to The Picturehouse may have also spotted a new piece titled "Film Love" by award-winning graphic designer Chris Page.
The show-stopping piece in Elwick Road is a celebration of the silver screen and its drive for pinpoint picture quality and definition through the ages.
This mural design celebrates this pursuit for perfection through box shapes, colours and line-work inspired by screen test cards.
People can look closely to uncover the hidden mural message 'Love.'
By the end of the week, seven out of the 14 murals are set to be complete as more artists use Ashford as their canvas marking the halfway point of the installations.
All are due to be completed by the launch event at Coachworks in Dover Place on Friday, March 31.