Preston artist wants to add to the city's wall artwork

Shawn Sharpe, from Preston, painted this mural on Adelphi Street.

Photo credit: Bernie Blackburn — Shawn Sharpe, from Preston, painted this mural on Adelphi Street. Photo credit: Bernie Blackburn

Shawn Sharpe was behind artwork on Adelphi Street and is aiming to raise £10,000 to help create three more to brighten up his home city.

The 26-year-old has set up a Kickstarter campaign and says he wants to follow the ideas of Simon Rigby and Preston City Council in updating Preston.

“This all started about five years ago when we painted the mural on Adelphi Street and I’ve always wanted to do something similar again,” city centre resident Shawn said.

“But it took us a long time to get permission from Preston Council so now we’re raising the cash so we’re ready for when we find somewhere to paint.”

The £10,000 will be split four ways. £1,000 to Kickstarter, £1,000 will provide rewards for anyone who pledges money to the campaign, £5,000 will pay for materials and the remaining £3,000 will pay two other local artists who will help with the work.

And the former pot washer turned full-time artists says Preston needs to start taking notes from Manchester and Liverpool.

He said: “In big cities they have lots of vibrant and exciting projects like this going on for the community and we need to start doing the same.

Shawn Sharpe, from Preston, is hoping to paint more murals around the city.

Photo credit: Ash Hardman — Shawn Sharpe, from Preston, is hoping to paint more murals around the city. Photo credit: Ash Hardman

“Students in Preston don’t seem to stick around and we need to give them something to stay here for after they finish uni.”

The UCLan graduate with an illustration degree says he’s in talks with several building owners but no locations or designs have been finalised.

To contribute to Shawn’s campaign search ‘Homeland - Preston Mural Project’ on the Kickstarter website.