Ed Sheeran (born 17 February 1991 in Halifax, West Yorkshire) is an English singer-songwriter, producer, and visual artist whose creative practice spans both music and painting. Raised in Framlingham, Suffolk, he grew up in a household deeply engaged with the arts — his father was an art curator and lecturer, and his mother ran an independent art consultancy — an environment that gave him early exposure to visual culture alongside his developing passion for songwriting.
Though he rose to global prominence as a musician, known for his genre-blending sound and emotionally direct lyrics, Sheeran has increasingly turned to painting as another outlet for expression. He began painting privately during breaks from touring, using it as a meditative counterbalance to the pressures of performance. His process is instinctive and physical: he works with household paints, applying them in layers through splashing, dripping and scraping techniques that echo the spirit of Abstract Expressionism.
In 2025, Sheeran debuted his first public exhibition, Cosmic Carpark Paintings, at Heni Gallery in Soho, London. The series, created in a disused car park, reflects a raw, experimental energy — vibrant compositions that merge spontaneity with introspection. The exhibition also embodied his long-standing commitment to philanthropy: proceeds were donated to the Ed Sheeran Foundation, supporting youth access to music and the arts.
Today, Sheeran views painting as a continuation of his creative language — another way to channel emotion and rhythm beyond melody and lyric. His visual work offers a glimpse into the same impulse that drives his songwriting: a search for colour, texture and authenticity in all its forms.