After attracting a storm of online attention — including unflattering comparisons to a zombie — a towering mural of snooker star Ronnie O’Sullivan is once again partly hidden from view, with scaffolding returning to the wall as the artist resumes work.
The 30ft artwork, painted at Spot On Snooker Club on Sheffield’s Langsett Road, was created by local artist Chris Ashmore.
Mr Ashmore posted images of the mural on 15 August on his business Facebook page, Creative Murals and Portraits UK, showing what appeared to be an almost finished piece.
The painting depicts the seven-time world champion bending low to line up a shot, cue and rest in hand, and it was fully revealed only recently when the scaffolding was taken down.
However, Mr Ashmore said the mural was not yet complete and told the BBC that further “touch-ups” were required.
He explained that the uneven ground prevented him from using his usual scissor lift, which would have allowed him to step back and assess the portrait properly.
“I saw people saying it looks like Michael Jackson or a zombie,” he told the BBC.
“I’ve got thick skin, I’ll be OK, but it didn’t feel fair,” he said.
Scaffolding was back in place at the mural today. The wall sits about 3km from the Crucible, home to the World Championships held in Sheffield each year.
