30th May 2012

LYME REGIS: It was Banksy wot did it!

by Francesca Evans

THE world’s most famous grafitti artist, Bristol-based Banksy, has admitted that the crane bird that stands close to the River Lim in Lyme Regis is all his own work.

The grafitti, which shows the crane with a goldfish in its mouth, painted on the wall near Gosling Bridge, has been the subject of much admiration and discussion by residents and visitors alike.

And now the piece of street art, in origami format, has appeared on Banky’s website, tantamount to an admission that he was the responsible artist. Many previously assumed that the crane was the work of a Banksy copy-cat and not the real deal.

Mill Green resident Peter Wiles, whose house overlooks Gosling Bridge, said the crane was painted over two nights in January but he had not seen anyone doing it.

The artwork also included reeds as the crane’s feet, which have since ben rubbed off during river-clearing work.

Since being posted on the artist’s website, the graffiti has appeared on Daily Mail Online, which said it was unusual as Banksy usually chose “gritty urban settings” for his work.

It also has appeared on The Sun’s website under the clever headline “River Banksy”.

The mysterious artist, whose real identity is not known, usually inlcudes satirical and dark humour and political messages in his work.

PICTURE: THE REAL DEAL - Banksy’s crane standing close to the River Lim at Gosling Bridge