A street artist whose work has gained a huge following says he hopes to brighten up drab walls across a Kent town.

Nick Shaker’s latest piece showing two children playing among heart-shaped bubbles has had a positive reaction from residents in Herne Bay.

The street artist and hairdresser created the artwork last weekend, replacing his former mural on the side of She Rose, a gallery and shop in Mortimer Street.

He painted over the child with a can of spray paint and multi-coloured hearts, and replaced it with two children playing with the pink bubbles.

The 44-year old, who owns Shakers Hair in Bank Street, says he hopes his work makes people smile as they walk past.

He told KentOnline: “I did it on Sunday evening and all the feedback has been brilliant.

“I have had people come into the salon and shake my hand saying ‘thanks for brightening up our town’.

“People got worried when I painted over the old one, but now they can see why I’ve done it.”

The girl blowing the bubbles is Mr Shaker’s daughter, and the boy at the other end is his son.

“I’ve got three children, and my eldest daughter and my middle daughter will also be featured on a piece I’m doing on a beach hut in the next week,” he explained.

“There’s no hidden subtext or a political message, it just brightens up some dull streets.”

“The wall is owned by She Rose and the owner is a friend of mine and she said the wall is mine to use.

“I’ll give it six months and we’ll see if I have any fresh ideas.”

Mr Shaker has also been asked to create a piece for a local coffee shop, which he hopes will appear in the next few weeks.

“It is all family-based; there are a lot of black and grey stencils with a flash of colour," he explained.

“Without selling myself short, there is no great thought process behind it, it is just what I enjoy making and what seems popular.

“As long as people smile as they walk past, I’m happy.”

Last month, Mr Shaker came up with a creative way to ensure a fly-tipped fridge was removed after being inspired by Banksy.

He grew tired of seeing the appliance after it was dumped outside his salon so took matters into his own hands.

Using his artistic skills, he painted an image of a girl holding a can of spray paint on the fridge door with the caption “this is art”.

Within 12 hours, someone came along and took the door off its hinges to remove the ‘artwork’ - but left the rest of the fridge.

Mr Shaker was inspired to act by the appearance of a Banksy artwork in Margate in February, which depicted a 1950s housewife pushing a man into a fridge-freezer propped against a wall in Park Place.

He has dubbed himself ‘Herne Bay’s Banksy’ and produces commissioned street art alongside his hairdressing job.