Flag designer? (8,6)

I believe the answer is:

pavement artist

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'designer?' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'flag' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'flag' could be 'pave' (as in to pave with flagstones) and 'pave' is present in the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for pavement artist that I've seen is " Painter".)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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