Street artist DNZ’s ‘Sleight Delay’ in St Luke’s car park

’TWAS a night before Christmas when the Tribune got word of a new piece of street art in Old Street’s back yard.

Appearing one morning in the car park at St Luke’s Estate, the mural of a parking warden writing a ticket for Santa’s sleigh had neighbourhood groups asking the big question – was this a Banksy?

The artist is in fact Welsh-born DNZ, who lives in Hackney, and created not one but three pieces in Islington and Hackney during December, all with the theme “Christmas is cancelled”.

DNZ told the Tribune this week: “I painted the pieces in the run-up to Christmas, crossing the estate just like Santa in the nights before Christmas.

“It was tiring to make sure they were all delivered before the big day. I don’t think I would be cut out for a one night around the world parcel delivery!”

“Sleight Delay” was the painting in St Luke’s car park, which seemed like the “perfect place” for Santa to park up between deliveries.

“Unfortunately the local authority had other ideas and issued him a ticket!” the artist added.

The other two pieces were painted around London Fields: one of a moose with lights in its antlers and another of Santa bedding down on the street for a sleep.

“I wanted to remind people that a materialistic approach to Christmas isn’t always necessary, with joy being found within families and community,” DNZ said, adding that he was always “humbled” when his pieces catch people’s imagination.

“I paint for the enjoyment of others, and it always gives me a sense of personal pride when people enjoy my work.”

DNZ’s work can be seen on streets across the UK as well as across the pond in Los Angeles, Denver and Florida, and he was one of nine artists nominated for the prestigious Dubel Prize’s Emerging Artist of the Year 2025, which celebrates British talent.