Local Portsmouth Artist, Kevin Dean creates stunning mural at Restaurant 27

Local Portsmouth Artist, Kevin Dean creates stunning mural at Restaurant 27 in Southsea

[ClickPress, Fri May 28 2010] The highly acclaimed Restaurant 27 in Southsea Hampshire has recently unveiled an exciting mural by local artist and international designer Kevin Dean, which captures the restaurant’s relaxed family atmosphere.

Kevin Dean who is based in Southsea, is well known for his designs which have been used across the world by a variety of household names including Laura Ashley, Marks & Spencer, Monsoon and GAP. As well as an enormous rainforest mural for The Smithsonian Restaurant in Washington DC and the decorative courtyard of one the world’s largest mosques in Abu Dhabi. When asked by Restaurant 27 to design a mural for above their bar area Dean jumped at the chance to work with a locally based company.

The artist spent several evenings drawing the restaurant's staff working in the kitchen or serving customers, these drawings were then enlarged and printed onto a huge wall covering, measuring over seven metres in length.

“It’s become a great talking point for all our customers," said Owner and Head Chef Kevin Bingham. "I wanted something that represented the family atmosphere that exists amongst all the staff so when Kevin Dean suggested a series of drawings of them all in action it just seemed the perfect solution." Restaurant 27, which is tipped to be the first Michelin Star Restaurant in Portsmouth and Southsea, opened it's doors in December 2009 and has become an instant hit with locals, and discerning diners from all over the region.

"Drawing directly from life has always been my preferred way of working, the line is so immediate and fresh. I didn't set out to draw portraits of everyone but hopefully some likeness's occur naturally. It has been a great pleasure working with Restaurant 27 and working in my home town. I hope that the visitors to the restaurant get as much pleasure from the mural as I had creating it", said Kevin Dean.

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A PDF profile of Kevin which includes various images from his portfolio is available upon request.

For further information or images: Please contact Katie Mason at AMB Marketing on 02380 613255.

Notes to Editors:

About Kevin Dean

Since graduating from the Royal College of Art, London in 1982, Kevin Dean has illustrated numerous books & magazines, painted murals of gardens and a rainforest mural for The Smithsonian Institute, Washington DC.

Kevin Dean is an experienced textile designer/design consultant, his designs have been used by Bouchara Textiles France, Laura Ashley UK, Gap Inc USA, Monsoon plc UK and other prestigious clients worldwide. Kevin has created his own collection of wallpapers English Roses which he showed at Maison & Objet Paris and The ICFF New York last year. The collection will soon be available in Liberty’s of London

Perhaps Kevin Dean’s most impressive commission has been his design work within The Grand Mosque Abu Dhabi. Instead of traditional Islamic geometrics, His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan asked Kevin to create a free – flowing floral design to cover the main courtyard floor or Sahan. Created from cut marble and white mosaic the courtyard covers an area of 18,000 sq metres probably the largest floor of it’s kind in the world!

Kevin went on to design further floors, walls and archways within The Grand Mosque, which opened in 2008. Kevin lives and works in Southsea with his wife, three lively sons and a large collection of plants. Kevin also undertakes bespoke commissions.