Hollywood star Gerard Butler inspects the painting of him in Bangor by Johnny Hamilton
One way of getting the attention of a Hollywood A-lister is creating a huge mural of them. That’s what Johnny Hamilton did close to Bangor seafront as part of a plan to put the town on Gerard Butler’s radar.
The actor has been based here for the past few months while filming How To Train Your Dragon, which is due to be released in cinemas next year.
And it worked, as the 300 star messaged the artist to say he was honoured, and later visited to see the painting.
Sadly, Hamilton was on holiday and didn’t get the chance to meet Butler in the flesh.
But it shows the power of art and why it’s so important — highlighting the conversations it can start and the connections it can make, bringing Hollywood to Co Down.
Hamilton said he was trying to put Bangor on the map, and it was a chance to use street art to help regenerate the town.
He suggests creating a “space where artists can work”.
Maybe the visit from Butler will be a catalyst to show just how impactful creative work can be for communities.
