AN artist has spoken of his elation after a striking piece of public art depicting Bradford artist David Hockney was finally completed.

The sculpture, in historic Little Germany, was unveiled in July last year to mark David Hockney’s 80th birthday.

But one piece - in the bottom right-hand corner - was missing. It has now been finished and added, meaning the huge piece of art is now complete.

Artist Marcus Levine said: “I can only say that I felt slightly elated after the cherry picker came down & I could finally see 15 months work complete.This will be a unique one off piece by me, I cannot see me ever having the chance again to devote 15 months of my life to any single work of art.”

The work is mounted on the external wall of a commercial building at the junction of Chapel Street and Peckover Street, and was revealed by nationally-known broadcaster and journalist Andy Kershaw. The eye-catching Hockney artwork, which was the world’s first sculpture made out of painted nails, is 16ft high and 12ft wide.

Around a quarter of a million nails make up the artist’s portrait and were hammered into a base of lacquered marine plywood and fixed onto the wall.

Its unveiling even made Chinese state news.

Organisations including Arts Council England, home shopping giant Freeman Grattan Holdings and timber merchant and supplier Arnold Laver contributed to the £42,000 cost of the work and its mounting on the building.

The sculpture was commissioned by Little Germany Action Group, a not-for-profit organisation of local business people and residents who are dedicated to improving an area of the city that contains an unprecedented number of listed buildings, but has faced issues like low footfall and empty units.

When the work was first unveiled last year, David West, chair of Little Germany Action, highlighted the importance of art to urban regeneration.

He said that interesting or quirky art features attract people to an area.

"People notice it and start to wonder what is next for the area," he said.

"It is great we have a world first piece of art here in Bradford. We hope people come to see this really incredible piece of art.”

Mr Levine said the last panel was the heaviest of the 12 which make up the piece.

He thanked Mr West and the engineers who installed the panel yesterday.

The first talks about the giant artistic tribute work began 18 months before it was first unveiled and Mr Levine said he didn't realise the journey it would take.

At the time, he said the piece was for Bradford and would hopefully encourage and grow tourism in Little Germany.