4:29pm Friday 21st December 2007
By Lydia Tipple
AN Enham Alamein man loves the night sky so much he decided to get involved in a franchise that paints it onto ceilings so when it's dark, it's like looking up at the stars.
Justin Bentham, aged 32, is the local painter for Starglow FX and uses special paint to depict the galaxies and star clusters.
The images of night sky glow in the dark but are invisible during daylight hours.
Justin, from Tobruk Close, thinks this is ideal for children as it helps them to get to sleep.
"It encourages them to go to bed.
"A lot of children don't like the dark but with this on their ceilings it helps them feel calm," he said.
Justin has always been interested in space, stars and planets and decided to combine his interest with his hobby of painting.
"This is just like painting on an easel - but on a ceiling or wall instead," he said.
He paints with an ultra- violet light on so he can see the images he is working on.
"If I didn't have that on I would have no clue what I was adorning the ceiling with," he said.
He has painted the night sky onto his daughter's bedroom ceiling which was very popular with two-year-old Emily. "My daughter loves it and she tries counting how many stars there are but she quickly falls asleep.
"It helps them relax," he added.
Justin has been involved with the franchise for about a year and is one of about 20 night sky painters in Britain.
He has recently started producing the night sky on large posters as well as ceilings and walls.
"These make ideal presents or small additions to a room as they are cheaper than a whole ceiling and you get the same effect, just on a smaller scale," he said.
For more information on Justin's work visit www.starglowfx.com.
Anybody interested in having the night sky painted on to their ceilings or buying a poster should email him at justin.b@starglowceilings.com
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