VIDEO: Night shift supermarket worker Tomas is on the ball with stunning Coalville pub mural

By Graham Hill

15th Sep 2021 | Local News

An artist who work night shifts at Morrisons has created an incredible sporting mural at a Coalville pub.

Tomas Villarosa - who operates as HeART With Hands on Facebook - took only two weeks to paint the interior of The Engineers Arms in Belvoir Road.

The design originally depicted Gareth Southgate's England team as they progressed to the final of this year's Euro2020 tournament - and mark Sir Alf Ramsey's 1966 World Cup win.

But then customers asked if he could incorporate Leicester City and Coalville Town on to the wall.

That resulted in a spectacular painting of a raven in one corner of the pub.

Tomas worked on the design while the pub was closed to customers - that was despite working nights at Morrisons in Coalville.

He already had designs on show at the Sence Valley Country Park and in Moira, near Ashby.

But this design has already attracted plenty of attention.

Tomas told Coalville Nub News: "The mural is now finished - but you can never tell, someone often wants something added.

"At first it started out as the England team, then Leicester, winning the Premier League and FA Cup, and Coalville Town were added.

"It grew from there.

"But most customers say they love the raven.

"It took me two weeks to do, and I was doing most it on a Saturday and Sunday nights, when there were no customers in.

"The idea came from Sally at The Engineers pub, she saw my art at Sence Valley, that's how it started.

"Originally it was meant for the garden at the back, but then we thought that winter was coming and that most people would be inside and watching the football.

"I think the whole thing took around 36 hours in total."

Tomas combines his supermarket shift work with his art, which started when he was growing up in the Philippines.

His wife, Marigold, came to England to work for the NHS and Tomas followed later.

He added: "My art was put aside for a while when the kids were growing up.

"Now I'm free to do more.

"My wife came here first and I followed her six months later in 2003.

"During those times, the UK Government was in need of health care workers and nurses, so my wife came over.

"I carried on in Manila and worked at a construction company and did art on the side.

"But I believe art is very important, you can look at a painting and see something new every time."

But Tomas admits his life could have been very different.

Instead of being in Coalville, he could have ended up as a priest in the Philippines.

"I trained to be a priest, that was also where I was able to hone my skills as an artist," he said.

"But then I met my wife. I was in Seminary in High School and went to University for Engineering."

Tomas was a night manager in Morrisons but, as he wants to pursue a career in art, he stepped to one side while still working there.

"I've been on and off at Morrisons, but now I can do more painting," he said.

an you just tweek a bit coz Tom was in Seminary in High School and went to University for Engineering. I met him when he was already a Project Manager Engineer. He came 6 months after I arrived in UK with my son Josh in 2003. He was a Night Manager in Morrisons for years but has to step down because my kids were still small and needed to attend more of their needs because I am also full time working in day shift.

     

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