Famous mural artist launches fundraiser to help transform Wolverhampton hospital's children's wards

Daniel Russell-Ahern, who goes by the alias Mr Mural, spent more than 210 hours and three weeks spray-painting Peaky Blinders characters Tommy Shelby, Ada Shelby and Alfie Solomons on the side of Digbeth Loc. Studios on Montague Street in Digbeth, Birmingham.

Visitors from as far afield as Spain and Pakistan travelled to see his work - which also received praise from Tom Hardy himself, who plays Alfie and commented "wow" on Daniel's Instagram post.

Now Daniel is bringing his artwork closer to home and for a good cause. 

The artist, who has more than 600,000 Instagram followers, plans to completely redesign two areas of the children's ward at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton. 

After creating his masterpieces in one area of the ward and it already 'making an impact', the staff have asked him to return and paint another two spaces. 

One of his canvases is the outdoor play area at the hospital and the other is a long corridor with a glass ceiling, which the painter hopes to transform into a 'unique journey'.

His work will be influenced by the young patients' and staff members' designs, and Mr Mural hopes to have the murals completed by next month. 

Daniel has started a Gofundme page so that, instead of 'asking the hospital to pay', he can raise as much as possible to pay it off himself. 

The Birmingham-born artist is hoping to raise £24,000, and has reached £6,985 so far thanks to generous donations from the public. 

He wrote: "New Cross Hospital has supported myself, along with the Mural Trader team, to complete mural artworks for a few spaces within the children's departments. Having made such an impact they have since asked us to quote two other larger areas within the hospital. Rather than asking the hospital to pay the total balance, I am going to fundraise for as much of the cost as possible if not all of it."

Anyone wishing to donate can do so here.