Tyler Kennedy Stent is about halfway through the Dunedin City Council-commissioned Bath St mural of the superstar, before Sheeran's three city concerts at Easter.
Online criticism of council spending $8350 on the mural quickly mounted, including from a city councillor, musicians and a television host.
Television New Zealand's Breakfast host Haley Holt said the mural would stop her from visiting the city.
In response to Holt's criticism, Kennedy Stent will include her name inside a heart on one of Sheeran's arms.
''Maybe she'll change her mind and come down and have a look,'' he said.
Despite the furore online, people on the street had been supportive, Kennedy Stent said.
''I was expecting some tomatoes to be thrown at me but everyone has been really supportive. One lady even bought me a coffee.''
The criticism was all the motivation he needed to do the best job, he said.
''It's been quite funny, really, because to me it's just street art. It doesn't have any meaning outside of what people want to give it.''
Kennedy Stent said he was surprised the controversy had travelled all the way to Sheeran, who during an interview with TVNZ's Seven Sharp said he understood why the mural might annoy people.
All going well, the mural would be finished in the next few days, Kennedy Stent said.
Related Stories
Comments
The artist and Ed Sheeran must realise that criticism is not aimed at them - they are welcome- it is aimed at the council staff who went ahead to do this. WE the ratepayers would like to have a say in something that should be paid by the people who will benefit financially- that is the businesses of Dunedin. Most locals just tolerate these events that bring 60,000 people into our city buy should have to pay for them too.