Meet the Artists

Anthony Downie is an artist and set builder based in North Shields. He began as a spray paint art teacher, running community mural projects and illustrating album artwork. He later moved into scenic work for theatre and events, including with Northern Stage and Live Theatre. In recent years, he has rediscovered painting, with his richly coloured images of local streets and buildings exhibited at venues including the Biscuit Factory, Baltic, and Woodhorn.

Instagram: @ad.paintingz
Website: www.adillustration.co.uk

KMG is a Scottish artist who has been creating street art for over two decades, working primarily with spray paint and masonry paint. Brought up on the stories of Northern Scotland, she draws inspiration from Celtic folklore to celebrate, revive, and reclaim overlooked local mythologies. Her distinctive, instantly recognisable work often features large figures and mythical creatures, prompting reflection on cultural identity and contemporary environments.

Instagram: @kmgyeah
Website: www.kmgyeah.com 

Marcus is an illustrator with a long track record of working with some of the world’s biggest brands and has picked up several awards along the way. His geometric style is well-established and widely recognised, with work exhibited internationally at venues including Tate Modern, La Gaîté Lyrique in Paris, and Beijing Design Week. Though he typically works at a smaller scale, he’s excited to explore how his distinctive illustrative style can translate into a large-scale mural setting for this festival.

Instagram: @marcus_reed_art
Website: www.marcusreed.com

Mark One87 is a mural and graffiti artist from North Shields. Blending bold graphic imagery with raw graffiti textures, his work reflects a background in graffiti, design, and illustration. He has created bespoke murals across the UK and is passionate about community arts, known for his generous spirit and skill in working with young people. In 2024, he founded Elements: Street Art Festival, Newcastle’s first street art–focused festival.
Instagram: @mark_one87  

Website: www.mark-one87.co.uk

Mul is an artist and creative director from Newcastle upon Tyne, best known for his large-scale outdoor murals, often featuring his well-known Running Heart character. His popularity has grown since the 2020 lockdown, thanks to a spontaneous, head-turning style that combines the universal appeal of cartoons with the raw energy of street art.

Instagram: @mul_draws 

Website: www.mul-draws.com

Nina Valkhoff is a muralist from Rotterdam who has been painting murals for over 23 years and has painted in 15 different countries so far. Her murals highlight flora and fauna, often featuring unknown or underappreciated animals. Sometimes she focuses on local species. Her work encourages viewers to appreciate wildlife and to treat animals with greater care.

Instagram: @ninapelirroja

Website: www.ninavalkhoff.com 

Prefab77 is a North Shields–raised artist whose influences span England, California, and New York. After early training in printmaking and design with the British Army, he moved into fashion and branding in New York — a period that sparked his fascination with portraiture and the female form. He works in mixed media, using spray paint, stencils, screen printing, and hand-finished touches across both small and large formats. His recent monochrome murals have drawn significant attention for their striking visual impact.

Instagram: @prefab77_

Website: www.prefab77.co.uk

Ricky Also is an artist and designer based in Bournemouth, with over 35 years in the graffiti and street art movements. His signature style combines bold, interlocking geometric typography with written messages for viewers to discover. He also runs the creative studio Paintshop, delivering commercial projects and producing the Upside outdoor gallery and MultiStories mural festival.

Instagram: @rickyalso 

Website: www.paintshopstudio.com