Santa's high street grotto: Shoppers marvel at pavement artist's incredible 3-D winter wonderland

3D Winter Wonderland: So that’s where he hides himself away! 

There’s Santa warming his hands before a cheery fire as his elves work busily on toys for all the boys and girls, while a couple of reindeer wait for the sleigh to be loaded up. And the location of this grotto? A high street in Surrey...

This astonishingly life-like chalk drawing is the work of pavement artist Julian Beever (the man in the Santa hat) who took four days to create it.

Set in stone: Julian Beever's amazing work will be displayed outside the Atrium Mall in Camberley, Surrey, until Christmas Day

He uses a technique known as anamorphia, which means that two-dimensional pictures appear three dimensional from a particular angle. 

‘My work is all about trying to capture childhood wonder, so what better subject than this at this time of year?’ said Mr Beever. 

Santa’s grotto will be on view outside the Atrium shopping mall in Camberley, Surrey, until Christmas Day.