Alan Carr immortalised in street art festival

Northampton's Alan Carr has been immortalised in a mural as part of one of Europe's largest street art events.

From Saturday 29 August to Monday 31 August the town became a "living canvas" as more than 360 artists came together to paint over walls and buildings that were earmarked as needing improvement and to cover illegal graffiti.

Wall Games was founded by artist James Thompson in the hopes of bringing more people to the town and leaving a lasting legacy.

He said: "It's a legacy we are trying to leave here to create a street art trail and a tour that doesn't just last for the weekend, but lasts for a longer period and gives people a reason to come and visit the town."

The festival and celebration of live art has become a key event in the town's calendar after previously taking place between 2020 and 2022. And with so much artwork scattered across the town, Thompson said it would take hours to see it all.

With support from West Northamptonshire Council and Northampton BID it has grown from a grassroots community project into a nationally recognised event.

Thompson said: "There's some amazing walls out there. I've seen some fantastic walls on Giles Street where there's some local artists that have done some incredible artwork. My personal favourite is Smug One, he's painted a large picture of a male in a baseball cap and a hoodie on the side of the old Corn Exchange building near Mayorhold car park.

"For me, being a Northampton resident and loving the town as I do, trying to find creative ways to bring people to the town and explore areas that perhaps they weren't aware of and didn't know about is important to me."

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