A street artist has defended his recently unveiled mural of seven-time world snooker champion Ronnie O'Sullivan, stating that the artwork is still unfinished. Chris Ashmore, who was commissioned to create the mural for the Spot On Snooker Club in Sheffield, has faced online criticism with some describing the depiction of O'Sullivan as "zombie-like" and "skeletal."
Ashmore acknowledged the viral reaction but explained that he had only completed two weeks of the five-week assigned project. He noted that touch-ups are still necessary and that the final perspective was impacted by working from scaffolding. "I usually use a scissor lift, where you can stand back and see things as a whole, but I couldn't use it as the land is too uneven," Ashmore said. "When the scaffolding came down, I came away and boom - it's gone viral."
He added that he has a "thick skin" and will be fine despite the criticism, but expressed that the feedback felt unfair given the work is not yet complete. The artist stated he typically uses equipment that allows him to step back and view the artwork from a distance, a perspective he lacked while working from the scaffolding. The mural's sudden visibility online occurred immediately after the scaffolding was removed.