AN ARTIST is to spend five days painting a huge mural in Bournemouth ahead of ITV's new period drama.

David Downes will recreate an illustrated version of the poster artwork for Sanditon on a giant billboard. The work will be completed in public on the seafront and remain in place for three weeks after it has been finished.

The painting is set to be 12 metres wide. Mr Downes, who will visit Bournemouth between August 25 and 30, is to use acrylic paints and ink applied with brushes and rollers to complete his work in time.

The artist will be attached to a small crane for safety.

He said: "“I am a landscape painter and like to paint from my imagination, so when ITV gave me the chance to envisage the setting from an unfinished book by one of our greatest authors, I jumped at the opportunity.

"To work at this scale with one of our greatest national broadcasters is an incredible challenge and an honour. I have spent many years working on a large range of creative projects and Sanditon promises to take this to a new level for me.”

Sanditon is based on the unfinished novel by celebrated English novelist Jane Austen.