A GIFTED artist from Wrexham - who created the Paul Mullin city centre mural - has received an award which highlights the community's greatest heroes.

The F Jones Initiative was originally established by Wrexham Lager and F Jones Food Service.

The team has been highlighting some of Wrexham's most selfless people with a series of monthly awards for a while now.

Among the recipients have been the likes of Aaron Aby, a fighter diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at just two weeks old and who has also overcome stage three cancer later on in life. 

The latest recipient of the prestigious prize is artist Liam Stokes-Massey.

Earlier this month, ahead of Wrexham's return to the English Football League, Liam unveiled a mural dedicated to Reds star Paul Mullin.

Situated on the side of the Fat Boar, the artwork has since caught the eye of many passers-by.

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The F Jones Initiative team said: "Liam has turned what was a hobby, drawing and painting into a full-time business. Amazingly, Liam didn’t take art as a subject in school!

"Liam has used his natural talent, alongside a lot of hard work, to create wonderful pieces of work.

"It all started when he was working in a call centre in Cardiff, doodling between calls. After noticing his work, one of his colleagues brought a photo of her daughter to work and asked him to draw her- this was Liam’s first commission.

"His artwork carried on being a hobby until 2014, when it became a full-time job, working from home, using a large drawing board. He then moved to an art space for 3-4 years, upstairs next to Waterstones, then in 2019, to his Shepherds Hut in Ty Pawb.

"Liam branched out drawing cars, kids, dogs, buildings and his big passion football artwork.

"In 2016, his business took off. When Wales were playing in the European Cup, Liam drew a picture of Welsh footballer, Gareth Bale in pencil, with Gareth’s hands forming a heart sign around the Wales badge on the shirt, with the heart coloured in red.

"Liam sold over 100 individually hand-painted pictures of this.

"Just over a year ago, Liam began talks with Richard Watkin, of The Fat Boar Wrecsam, discussing how they could paint a mural on the side of the premises.

"The mural was designed by Liam and Adam Pritchard, to celebrate Wales World Cup qualification. Liam worked out what went where on a large grid on his ipad, then superimposed it on the wall.

"This summer, Liam has created a stunning new mural on the wall of the side of The Fat Boar, featuring Wrexham AFC striker, Paul Mullin and also promoting Wrexham charity Your Space."

The Leader:

PIC: Liam Stokes-Massey's mural dedicated to Wrexham star Paul Mullin.

The F Jones Initiative team added: "Liam, being a huge football fan, says his favourite pieces are his football-related works, especially when the players interact with his work.

"His work is certainly being noticed, during last year’s World Cup, a relative bought two wall charts created by Liam and sent them to Gareth Bales’ house in LA.

"Even Wales footballer Kieffer Moore, has a print of one of Liam’s paintings in his living room."

All Liam’s paintings and drawings are sold on Etsy, Pencilcraftsman, and you can contact him for commissions on Facebook @pencilcraftsman