A barman at an Oxford pub has been praised for creating a colourful mural where he works.

London-based Beavertown Brewery has announced that Ash Subhash, a bartender at Oxford’s James Street Tavern, has been named one of its ‘Creatives Untapped’ winners, and has given him a cash prize of £1,000.

Mr Subhash has been working in the hospitality industry for more than two years and his work is mainly mural based.

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The characters in the painting are all real, from workers in the pub to his friends around town.

It even features a ‘Where’s Wally’ to match the red and white stripes of James Street Tavern’s uniform.

Beavertown Creatives Untapped was created in collaboration with creative publication It’s Nice That to celebrate the best and boldest creatives working in pubs and bars across the UK.

This is in recognition of the hospitality industry long being a hub for creatives, with artists, musicians and actors turning to it as a side hustle on their journey to pursuing their creative dreams.

This is a story that Beavertown’s own creative director and judge of the competition, Nick Dwyer, knows well.

This is Oxfordshire: Part of the pub mural created by Ash Subhash

Mr Dwyer started his career sketching behind the bar at Beavertown Brewery’s founder, Logan Plant’s former pub after being put forward by a friend to be the local artist for the brewery.

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Whilst waiting tables and taking freelance illustration jobs was Mr Dwyer's main gig, sketch by sketch he embedded his artwork into its branding and beer cans - becoming a vital member of the team very quickly.

Mr Dwyer, creative director of Beavertown Brewery, said: “Murals are always really impressive to me, and the one submitted was full of character, characters and colour.

"The sketchbook work they provided was really interesting too, would love to have seen more. Your friends did you a favour by having you submit it.

"It was just as strong as the mural.”

This is Oxfordshire: Ash Subhash who won a prize for his mural

Matt Aslaigh, the editor-in-chief of the other judging body, It’s Nice That, said: “Every week at It’s Nice That, we talk to so many creatives who work in bars, cafes and restaurants in order to support their creative practice.

"We’ve teamed up with Beavertown on this Creatives Untapped campaign because we really want to champion those artists and designers who split their time between working in the hospitality sector and honing their craft.

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"So we wanted to say a massive congratulations to the winners of this campaign, but at the same time to celebrate every single individual who waits tables and pulls pints while also finding the inspiration and motivation to be creative.”

All winners have been contacted and their work will be showcased at a London venue in August.

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

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