Northern Ireland

Street artist Dan Kitchener spray-paints striking neon Ormeau Bridge mural

Dan Kitchener, AKA Dank, has painted striking neon murals across the world

Street artist Dan Kitchener working on a new mural on 135 Ormeau Road, it depicts the Ormeau Bridge lit up at night and reflected in the Lagan River and was commisioned by the Lower Ormeau Road Traders' Association after they received funding to make the road a more viable business destination. PICTURE: MAL MCCANN
Street artist Dan Kitchener working on his new mural on 135 Ormeau Road. PICTURE: MAL MCCANN (Mal McCann)
By Paul Ainsworth

Celebrated street artist Dan Kitchener is in the midst of giving south Belfast a new mural depicting the Ormeau Bridge in his trademark neon style.

The London-based creative is renowned for his freehand spray-paint murals, which he has created in cities across the world including New York, Barcelona and Osaka, Japan.

Street artist Dan Kitchener working on a new mural on 135 Ormeau Road, it depicts the Ormeau Bridge lit up at night and reflected in the Lagan River and was commisioned by the Lower Ormeau Road Traders' Association after they received funding to make the road a more viable business destination. PICTURE: MAL MCCANN
Dan Kitchener, AKA Dank. PICTURE: MAL MCCANN (Mal McCann)

He has previously painted murals in Belfast, including a striking black taxi image in the Woodvale area, while another nightscape mural is located at Talbot Street in the Cathedral Quarter.

Kitchener, who marks his work with the name Dank, also painted a mural last year in Carrickfergus, featuring the town’s iconic castle.

He creates his recognisable urban neon works without the use of stencils, while his in-demand graphic talent has featured in music videos for artists including Miley Cyrus.

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A new Dan Kitchener mural in Carrickfergus. Picture by Mal McCann
Dan Kitchener's mural in Carrickfergus. PICTURE: MAL MCCANN

His latest piece in Belfast was commissioned by the Lower Ormeau Road Traders’ Association, which received funding through the Vibrant Business Grant, offered by Stormont’s Department for Infrastructure and Belfast City Council.

It adorns a wall at the corner of University Street, and will show the Ormeau Bridge lit up at night.

It will be officially unveiled as part of the Lower Ormeau Road Traders’ Association Spring Festival, which will take place on March 16.

Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster on Tuesday, he said he found the “huge” wall canvass “quite daunting” at first.

“Quite often I will discuss with project leaders on the vibe they want,” the artist said of his process.

“I will try and obviously mix my creative style within that.”