Palakkunnummel: Rasheed Image, an artist from Mathamangalam known for his exceptional skills in painting and graphics art, passed away following a chest pain. He was taken to a private hospital in Batheri around 7 AM but could not be saved.

Rasheed’s passing is a deep loss to his friends and the entire region. He was renowned for transforming untidy public spaces into beautiful locations through his artistic skills. He turned every dirty walls, tree stumps and neglected areas from Lakkidi till Muthanga into vibrant works of art and played a key role in turning Batheri and Kalpetta into `townships with art'.

Rasheed also crafted the stone park in front of the Collectorate premises in Kalpetta, turning waste materials and condemned vehicles into painted installations that earned the district ₹1 lakh in the “Waste to Art” category. The initiative also earned him personal recognition from the District Collector.

Beyond murals, Rasheed excelled in temple art and designed logos for several prominent firms and commercial graphics. Passionate about ecological conservation, he planted banyan trees across India, worked to control the growth of Senna, an invasive species in the forests of Wayanad and promoted cleanliness through his art in collaboration with the Shuchitwa Mission. He also founded the “Greens Wildlife Forum,” led various environmental initiatives 

An accomplished photographer, Rasheed had long run the advertisement and graphics firm `Image’ in Kottakunnu, Batheri and also gained international experience working abroad.