from the front/from up front

[navi tasan]

1. He was walking toward us from up front.
2. He was walking toward us from the front.

Are both acceptable?

 

[emsr2d2]

Notwithstanding that the preferred word in BrE is "towards", they're both possible, as is "He was walking towards us from up the front". I see/hear "up front" used more in AmE than BrE (except in a football context, in which it's common).