Clamour to see Banksy’s driving me up the wall

Banksy’s artwork on a South Wales garage has been cordoned off A GARAGE owner says he is struggling to cope and in “freefall” as fans besiege his home to see a Banksy artwork on his wall.

Steelworker Ian Lewis was stunned to find the graffiti artist had left a festive mural on his garage wall in Port Talbot, South Wales, before Christmas.

Vandals

Mr Lewis, 55, has faced art-lovers keen to see it, thieves wanting to take it and vandals to destroy it.

Locally-born Hollywood actor Michael Sheen has helped by funding security and fencing. But Mr Lewis pleaded for help to find a long-term solution for the anonymous artist’s priceless work. He said: “It’s been very, very stressful and all too much for me.

“I’m managing an arts attraction by myself.

“I was happier before it happened. I just don’t know where I’m going.

“There’s in excess of a thousand people

Ian Lewis: It’s been very, very stressful going there a day, all hours, day and night. I can’t cope. “I didn’t know at the beginning it was a Banksy. “I just thought it was a fantastic bit of artwork and I was going to cover it and protect it, keep it for myself. “Then it just went viral on Facebook. The first night people wanted to chip bits off it or chisel it out and steal it.”

It was covered in plastic sheeting but volunteers said it has still been targeted. With 20,000 having visited, Mr Lewis wants to see the wall cut out and moved. He said: “It needs to be put in the middle of the town centre maybe. It needs a team of experts to move it.

“The Welsh Assembly should step in and take over because it is a treasure.”

Culture

Sheen added: “It’s great Banksy came and did this and drew attention to Port Talbot but Ian does need some help with this now.”

Plaid Cymru has called on the Labour-run Welsh Government to buy it.

Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford is to ask Culture Minister Lord Elis-Thomas what can be done.