Mural of Ricky Stuart's complete

Ricky Stuart's face.

Queanbeyan Palerang Regional Council decided to let the public choose who they wanted to be painted on a mural which was funded by the federal government.

Stuart was chosen and the official opening of the mural was on Wednesday, May 8.

"We initially got a grant from the federal government called the 'Building Better Regions Fund'," QPRC program coordinator for place management Tracey Lamont said.

"We put in a submission for a transformative portrait mural in the Queanbeyan CBD.

"The subject matter of that mural was left open to the community.

"People had to nominate a person who they thought best represented QBN along with a story and an image.

"The result was a fantastic portrait of Ricky's face on the rear wall."

Dimitri Hantas was the person who nominated Stuart and he did so due to the impact he has had on the town.

"He has been a wonderful ambassador for Queanbeyan and also the wider region," Hantas said.

Stuart is best known for his illustrious playing and coaching career in the NRL, but Hantas said there was more to him.

"My nomination was based on Ricky's wonderful achievements in sport as well as his charity work for children with autism," he said.

QPRC had also been putting out expressions of interest to well known portrait mural artists.

"We went through the Queanbeyan Palerang regional council public art advisory board to select the artist to paint the mural," Lamont said.

Artist and designer based in Jamberoo Clare Foxton was picked to create the drawing.

Ricky Stuart and members of QPRC were among the guests at the launch.