Southsea teenager creates 'breathtaking' intricate mural inside Fratton chip shop

INTRICATE murals have sprung up around the city as a young artist brings her imagination to life on blank walls.

A sea-inspired sprawling artwork inside a Fratton chip shop is the latest in a series of creations by 18-year-old Vik Demjanova, who enjoys art as a relaxing hobby.

Vik Demjanova, 18 from Southsea, has been creating intricate murals on blank walls. Pictured: Vik's latest mural in Ocean Fresh Fish and Chips

placeholder image — Vik Demjanova, 18 from Southsea, has been creating intricate murals on blank walls. Pictured: Vik's latest mural in Ocean Fresh Fish and Chips

The walls of newly reopened Ocean Fresh Fish and Chips in Kingston Road have been adorned with Vik’s illustrations of fish, turtles and waves to catch customers’ eyes.

Portsmouth college student Vik, who took around 15 hours on this piece, said: ‘I tried to present a sea scene to relate to the Portsmouth area, I take a bit of inspiration from nature.

Vik Demjanova, 18 from Southsea, has been creating intricate murals on blank walls. Pictured: Vik with her works from the project at Hotwalls Gallery

‘There’s something fascinating about putting something you have imagined on a piece of paper and it just materialises.’

Shop manager Indy Chakravartty, who is a friend of Vik’s mum Kristina, is very pleased with the artwork.

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Indy, who opened the shop on May 1, said: ‘A lot of people come into the shop and say it’s amazing. It’s absolutely beautiful, I look at it and I still can’t believe it came out of a human mind.

‘I think she needs to gain a bit of attention for her work because it truly is breathtaking.’

The first mural taken on by Vik, who studies science, was in the living room of family friend John Kelly.

A tree was requested by John, but he left the rest to Vik’s imagination and the final piece was a complex display of branches, creatures and more.

While she was completing the mural, Vik got friendly with John’s cat Bertie, and when Bertie sadly died shortly afterwards, Vik returned to add him into the image.

Vik Demjanova, 18 from Southsea, has been creating intricate murals on blank walls. Pictured: John Kelly's cat Bertie, who Vik befriended during her time at John's house, and the characterisation of him she added to the mural

John, from Southsea, said: ‘She drew this wonderful thing on my wall. I don’t know how she does it, she’s just got a really nice style.

‘She’s very understated, she doesn’t think it’s anything special. It’s just who she is.’

Other creations have included a painting on the wall of Kristina’s goddaughter’s room in the colours of the Lithuanian flag, a mural in Southsea holiday accommodation and a painted barrel as part of a community project at Hotwalls Studios.

To see more of Vik’s artwork, see her Instagram @vikitdemj

Vik Demjanova, 18 from Southsea, has been creating intricate murals on blank walls. Pictured: Vik's mural in John Kelly's house. Photo by Steve Hughes Photography

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