AN international graphic artist has been hard at work producing a unique artwork in Chipping Norton.

Luke Embden started work this week on producing a unique large-scale linear artwork reflecting life in the town and the surrounding area – in the windows of a former department store on the High Street.

Luke, who grew up in Chippy, will be painting the windows of the former Beale’s store.

The piece will capture some of the features of the town and the community who live here. He said: “I came back to Chipping Norton in mid-March to celebrate my dad’s surprise birthday and have since been here in lockdown like the rest of the country!

"I thought whilst back in my hometown it’d be nice to create a mural somewhere in the town to bring a sense of joy and hope whilst we go through the ongoing pandemic”.

Luke was the first artist-in-residence in Covent Garden and has done projects for Carnaby Street, Abbey Road Studios, Coca Cola, Nike, MTV, Google and Hix Restaurants.

He mixes street art with freeform typography and bold graphic lines, weaving together words, phrases and iconic imagery.

Chipping Norton Mayor Elect, Georgia Mazower, said: “What a fantastic gift this is for the town – artists are really skilled at seeing these opportunities and making stuff happen. And hats off to Midcounties Co-op whose building it is, who couldn’t have been more supportive.

"And if this is a catalyst for other landlords who’d like artists to transform their windows please get in touch! We also really want to hear from young people with suggestions of phrases that they’d like to be incorporated into the piece so it becomes a living artwork.”