Upstairs at the Grill, Chester
steak house & fine dining • origin story • brand storytelling • bespoke mural • digitally printed
“Stef was nothing short of amazing when we commissioned her to make the Mural for our restaurant “Upstairs at the Grill” in Chester. She listened intently to our brief and fully immersed herself into the project which was to capture 20 years of history of the restaurant.
Once the extensive notes and our journey of the last 2 decades was told, her artistic talent and instincts kicked in & created our story and dream within a few weeks. A couple of tweaks later, our pride and joy took centre stage in our restaurant.
From the first moment of meeting Stef, in her quirky, charming ways, not only made us feel comfortable exploring a different craft & way of working but also was super professional from the start to finish and a pleasure to work alongside.”
- NEIL MCDONNELL, Upstairs at the Grill Founder
This local’s favourite first opened their doors in 2002, and quickly established a reputation for delicious quality steaks and cocktails expertly mixed. They made the decision to close and completely refurbish the restaurant, and commissioned a bespoke illustration to take pride of place in the dining room.
The owners of UATG also run the popular chain Hickories, so they weren’t as available as other clients for a sit down chat. Instead, I sent a list of some key questions that would delve into the personality of the restaurant, their influences and aspirations.
The resulting visual narrative celebrates quality steak preparation and cookery, referencing the owner’s love of New York steakhouses, and how they have brought these influences to Chester.
The design was printed onto ceramic tiles and installed in the main dining room, giving a contemporary finish to the digital artwork I provided.
The design was so admired by the team, that a few months later I adapted the original artwork to provide beer can art for the UATG Pale Ale, available only in the restaurant.
