A MYSTERY piece of street art, created in a style strongly reminiscent of Banksy’s work, has appeared overnight at a bus terminus on the Somerset coast.
The artwork was discovered by Paul Stone at the Beach Road bus terminus at Sand Point, near Weston-super-Mare. He believes it was painted under the cover of darkness.
Rumoured Banksy appears on building near Weston-super-Mare
Painted on a cream-coloured wall, the stencil-style artwork depicts a small child-like figure sitting in a deckchair while holding what appears to be an ice cream.
The monochrome figure is rendered in black and white, using the distinctive stencilling technique synonymous with many of Banksy’s most recognisable
Above the seated figure is a small red image resembling a flaming heart, providing the only splash of colour in the composition and creating a striking contrast against the otherwise black-and-white piece.
A piece of artwork in the same style as Banksy’s has been found at a bus stop in a seaside Somerset town. (Image: Paul Stone)
The appearance of the artwork has already prompted speculation locally about its origins due to its visual similarities to the work of Bristol-born street artist Banksy, whose pieces often combine simple stencil imagery with a single bold colour accent.
Last year marked 10 years since an official Banksy ‘Dismaland’ exhibition was opened at the Tropicana site in Weston-super-Mare – bringing thousands upon thousands of visitors to Weston.
The art installation curated by street artist Banksy included over 50 international artists, including Damien Hirst, Julie Burchill and Jimmy Cauty.
No one has confirmed that the new artwork at Sand Point is linked to Banksy.
The discovery comes after several Banksy-like murals have appeared across Somerset in recent years, many of which were later claimed by the elusive street artist known as Disney.B32.
The pseudonymous artist, whose real identity remains a closely guarded secret, has created works across Brean, Bridgwater, Weston-super-Mare and beyond, earning a reputation as Somerset’s answer to Banksy.
One of the artist’s previous murals appeared on a wall at the National Trust’s Brean Down near Weston-super-Mare. The artwork depicted a young girl in black and white, wearing Nike Air Force trainers and making a heart symbol with her hands, again in a style reminiscent of Banksy’s stencil-based creations.
Disney.B32 has also produced commemorative pieces, including the mural Lest We Forget, which was unveiled near Weston and served as a tribute to fallen servicemen and women ahead of Remembrance Sunday.
Based in Birmingham, the artist regularly travels to Somerset, using walls in locations ranging from public spaces to derelict buildings as canvases for the thought-provoking works that frequently draw comparisons with Banksy.
Whether the latest Sand Point artwork is the work of Disney.B32, Banksy, or another street artist entirely remains a mystery for now. But its overnight appearance and unmistakable stencil style have already captured the attention of passers-by at one of Somerset’s most scenic coastal locations.