Portsmouth Mural Painted as Tribute to Artist Joseph Loughborough After Death
Artist Ben Slow has created a large mural in Portsmouth to honour his late friend and fellow artist Joseph Loughborough, following his sudden death in June 2025 at the age of 44. Slow spent nine days painting the tribute, describing it as a way to "try to make sense" of the loss, which occurred just weeks after Loughborough was diagnosed with cancer.
A Personal Grieving Process Through Art
Speaking to the Press Association, Slow, 42, admitted that art played a crucial role in his grieving process. He explained that painting helps him express emotions when words fail, saying, "For me, art is my way of expressing myself. I'm not good with words. And a lot of time when you're painting, for me, I don't even realise why I'm doing it." He recently started therapy to understand this better, realising that his creations often process day-to-day life experiences.
Slow reflected on the emotional challenges of the project, noting that staring at Loughborough's face for weeks during the design phase led to intense physical and emotional reactions. "Everyone grieves differently, obviously. Mine is like big explosions," he said. He had to temporarily park his emotions to focus on the job, describing it as a "bit weird" but necessary to complete the mural over eight or nine days in a focused zone.
Capturing Kindness and Impact Through Street Art
The mural, located at Pitt St Skatepark in Portsmouth, aims to capture Loughborough's "kindness, openness and love." Slow, who is originally from Kent but now based in Copenhagen, highlighted the power of street art, stating, "Street art is very impactful. A mural like that, straight away you see it. And I think there's something in its scale that perhaps strikes or hits you a bit harder." He expressed happiness that the artwork captured Loughborough honestly and hopes it serves as a place for people to "go, take time and remember Joe."
Loughborough, born in Gosport, was a celebrated painter and visual artist known for his expressive charcoal drawings. Slow hailed him as a "special lad" and a "one-off," adding, "Joey was one of my best friends and one of my biggest inspirations. He left a really big impression." He emphasised that this tribute was a personal way to show love and appreciation, supported by others who knew Loughborough and wanted to make it happen.
Slow concluded by noting the tendency to focus on positives after someone's death, but stressed that Loughborough was not just "anyone else." The mural stands as a lasting memorial, blending personal grief with public art to honour a life cut short.
