“The attention to detail is just incredible. When you see it up close, it is breathtaking”
A local barber who overcame a near-death experience earlier this year has been honoured in a new mural.
Belfast artist Foss, well known for his unique paintings of Belfast streets and landmarks, reached out to Jay on social media to share his latest piece of work inspired by the barber and his journey.
On April 20, Jay Millar suffered a seizure while he was driving. Pulling over at the side of the road and receiving help, Jay fell and hit his head, and was rushed to hospital where he was placed into a medically induced coma in ICU.
READ MORE: Family issue update on Belfast barber Jay Millar five weeks after seizure while drivingREAD MORE: ‘Never give up’: Belfast barber shares moving story of growing up in care
The North Belfast man remained in a coma for three weeks before he was discharged from hospital in May.
Inspired by Jay’s outreach work with the local homeless community, Foss said it was Jay;s acts of goodwill, along with the tragic accident that inspired him to create the painting.
“I’d seen some clips of Jay on social media,” he said.
“My son is 17 years old and really likes the message that Jay puts out there. After Jay had his seizure, to me, something in the universe just didn’t seem right.
“Here’s a guy whose message is good, he’s spreading the word that God is good, so what is happening here? Something seemed out of balance. So I thought, I have to do a picture.
“I’m working-class, not great at speaking – sometimes I get taken the wrong way, but I thought it was important to do this. I hope that the world is now back in sync.”
The painting is called Close Shave , but the mural of Jay and the name aren’t the only nods to the Belfast barber.
Jay said: “When I received the message, I was shocked. I had to look twice.
“I had seen Foss’ work before, his art is synonymous with St George’s Market. To see my face painted on the gable wall of one of his paintings, I didn’t quite know what to think.
“In today’s world, you’re probably suspicious of everything. Because of AI, anything can be generated but I looked at the profile and it was Foss himself, so I messaged back thanking him for thinking of me and asked if I could come down and see it when it was finished.”
“The attention to detail is just incredible. When you see it up close, it is breathtaking,” he continued.
“For example, the street is named ‘Wayne Street’ after my brother who passed away. That made me very emotional. Then, leaning against the wall is a homeless man, a tribute to the work I’ve done with the homeless.”
When Jay attended St George’s Market on Sunday, his intention was to meet Foss and showcase the painting and his other works of art to his social media followers, but what he received was a whole lot more.
Jay said: “He gave me the painting.
“I wasn’t expecting it. I thought maybe he’d be able to get them made into prints and I could buy one as a thank you for the time and effort that went into this. But he said, ‘What you don’t know is – this painting is yours.
“He said he’ll get it varnished and drop it off to me. It’ll be hung up in my shop for as long as I’m there. Instantly, it’s become one of my proudest possessions. I can’t thank him enough.”
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