Carlos Serrano, whose ground-floor flat looks onto the Banksy artwork in Hornsey Road, Holloway

COUNCIL chiefs have urged people not to wreck a new mural by the street artist Banksy after white paint was hurled at it just days after it appeared.

The artwork, depicting a figure spraying green paint onto a wall behind a bare cherry tree, has drawn crowds to Hornsey Road, Holloway, after it appeared in the early hours of Sunday. When seen from afar, it gives the impression of the tree in leaf.

Banksy confirmed his authorship on social media the following day.

His other work has often been targeted by vandals or even thieves, and fencing has been erected in a bid to protect it. There is also a sign asking people not to climb the tree to get photos.

Journalist Carlos Serrano, whose ground-floor flat looks onto the artwork, arrived home on Sunday afternoon to see people on the grass outside his front windows taking photos.

Florence Bridge, Kate Evangeli and Anna Rogers stop to see the artwork

“At first I thought there was an animal there or something,” Mr Serrano said. “People were stopping in their cars, asking me questions – asking me if I was Banksy and offering me money. It’s no problem for me to have people walking here, as they are respectful and funny.”

A council spokesperson said: “It’s sad to see [it] has been defaced. We very much hope that the piece, which is still fantastic, will now be left alone for people to enjoy.”

Mirjam Adams, who lives in Finsbury Park and cycles to work along Hornsey Road, was amongst those who came to see the mural after reading about it in the news.

“I like that it’s here,” Ms Adams said. “People wouldn’t notice this place at all otherwise.”

Florence Bridge, Kate Evangeli and Anna Rogers also stopped by en route to their favourite cafe, with buggies and babies in tow.

They met during antenatal classes and are now on maternity leave.
Art teacher Ms Bridge said: “It’s so nice to have art that everyone can access without needing to pay to go to a gallery.”

Fans take snaps from behind barriers aimed at protecting the painting

Ms Rogers added: “Do you reckon Banksy is just in one of these flats, looking down at all this?”

Banksy’s identity has remained a matter of speculation since he became known for subversive, political street art in the 1990s.

His most recent known piece – prior to the Finsbury Park mural – was a stop sign with three military drones on it in Peckham, but this was stolen just hours after Banksy verified that it was his work.

In Camden Town, one of his works was protected with a Perspex screen but vandals drilled a hole in it and ruined it with black paint.

Meanwhile, when Banksy painted a stencil of a rat on Camden Council’s old offices in King’s Cross, officials again used a screen to protect it and investigated whether an insurance plan should be taken out.

On the Hornsey Road artwork this week, Islington’s spokesperson said: “We very much want it to stay. This is a really powerful piece, which highlights the vital role that trees play in our communities and in tackling the climate emergency.”

The Town Hall is now in the process of installing CCTV at the site and told the Tribune that it is in discussion with the owner of the now green-painted wall about how to protect the mural and its surroundings.

Other Banksy artworks can be found across London, including in King’s Cross and Shoreditch.