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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Josh Salisbury

New tree mural in London street sparks Banksy speculation

A suspected Banksy artwork has sprung up on the side of a building in Finsbury Park, north London.

The artwork features swathes of green behind a pared back tree to give the appearance of leaves, with a stencil of a person holding a pressure hose next to it.

The artwork appeared on Sunday in Hornsey Road.

The work has yet to be officially confirmed as a Bansky, with the elusive artist normally confirming his works by posting pictures on his website and social media.

But speaking to the BBC, documentary maker James Peak, creator of the Radio 4 series The Banksy Story, said: “To my mind it looks like a dead cert.”

He added: “It's spring now, and this tree should be bursting forth with leaves, but Banksy must have cycled past and thought how miserable it looks.

"So, on St Patrick's Day, he has taken exactly the same shade of green Islington Council use for their street signs and used a pressure hose or a fire extinguisher to spray the leaves back in, onto the rather dilapidated wall behind."

Islington councillor Flora Williamson also came across the artwork while out canvassing.

She later tweeted: "By far the most exciting thing to happen on today's canvass session on Hornsey Road was seeing that Banksy had come to Tollington over night.

(Ella Nunn/PA Wire)

"Lots of local interest - I'm a fan of it."

Locals have also posted on social media about the mural. One said: “Banksy came overnight and now my rent will skyrocket."

Another added: “Proud new caretakers of an apparent new Banksy piece in Finsbury Park… Woke up this morning to it on the side of flat.”

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