Ronnie O’Sullivan Mural Artist Says Viral Sheffield Work Is Unfinished

A Sheffield street artist has said a large mural of seven-time world snooker champion Ronnie O’Sullivan is still unfinished after images of the work drew a wave of criticism online. BBC News reported that Chris Ashmore was commissioned to paint the back wall of the Spot On Snooker Club on Langsett Road.

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The artwork has divided people living near the club. Some residents praised the mural and said it improved the area, while critics objected particularly to the appearance of O’Sullivan’s eyes, mouth and face. The contrasting reactions helped the image spread widely on social media before Ashmore had completed the project.

Ashmore told the BBC that he had worked for two weeks of the five allocated to the commission. He said further adjustments, including changes to the skin tones, remained part of the plan. The artist was surprised by the scale of the online response and argued that judging the piece at its current stage did not reflect the intended finished work.

The working conditions also affected his ability to assess the portrait from a distance. Ashmore said he normally uses a scissor lift, but uneven ground meant he instead worked from scaffolding that restricted his view of the whole mural. Once the scaffolding was removed, the image attracted attention and comparisons that he considered unfair.

Spot On manager Dan Kirkland acknowledged that areas around the eye and mouth need changes, according to the BBC report. He said the club would arrange the access Ashmore requires and believes relatively limited alterations can significantly improve the likeness. Kirkland also defended the artist personally, drawing a distinction between criticism of the artwork and attacks directed at its creator.

Ashmore, who has previously produced murals for businesses, said he had always planned to use a cherry picker for the final work. He does not intend to rush the remaining changes in response to social-media pressure and plans to complete them on his own timetable. For now, the Sheffield portrait remains a work in progress rather than the final version of the club’s tribute to O’Sullivan.