Ed Sheeran trades mic for paintbrush with debut art exhibition inspired by parents

Grammy-winning artist Ed Sheeran is stepping into the world of visual arts with the launch of his debut painting collection titled ‘Cosmic Carpark Paintings’, set to open in London this week.

Known globally for his chart-topping hits, the 34-year-old singer revealed that his passion for painting began in 2019 at the end of his Divide tour and has since become a creative outlet.

The artworks, created in a disused Soho car park during breaks from his Mathematics tour, are inspired by celestial forms.

“My parents worked in art, so it’s always been in my blood,” said Sheeran. “During tour breaks, I’d run to the car park, paint for hours, and run home. It became my routine.”

The idea to showcase his work came after encouragement from acclaimed artist Damien Hirst and art collector Joe Hage.

Proceeds from the sales will support the Ed Sheeran Foundation, which funds music education and grassroots projects across the UK.

The exhibition runs from July 11 to August 1 at the HENI Gallery in London. Half of the proceeds from original works and £300 from each print will go to the foundation.

This unexpected artistic pivot follows viral attention around Sheeran’s wife Cherry Seaborn, whose LinkedIn profile recently surfaced online, revealing her impressive career in corporate sustainability with Deloitte. The couple, who met in school, married in 2018 and are parents to two daughters, Lyra and Jupiter.