Painting the rainbow
ARTIST RAISES MONEY FOR NHS WITH COLOURFUL STREET ART
IF YOU live in Croydon or surrounding areas, it’s highly likely you would have noticed a certain colourful mural appear in recent days.
The impressive painting, which first appeared in Shirley, shows a young boy with a mask on his face holding a watering can.
With the watering can tilted and bright colours coming out of it, a rainbow can be seen underneath.
There was some speculation on social media that the artwork could be a Banksy, but in fact it’s the work of
Chris Shea.
The 30-year-old street artist has painted more than 40 ‘Rainbow Boys’ since starting last week.
Mr Shea, who lives in Shirley, is raising money for the NHS with every mural he paints, and so far has raised more than £3,500.
He told MyLondon: “I am sick of being stuck at home but the main thing is I feel our NHS needs all the help it can get right now.
“That is why I am doing it. The main thing is about raising the money.”
The street artist, who also works as a carpenter, has so far completed more than 40 murals all around Croydon and nearby areas, including West Wickham and Beddington.
He has painted on people’s garages, houses and buildings.
Anyone wanting a Rainbow Boy on their road or near to their home can request one by getting in touch with Mr Shea. The artist will then send them a form to complete, and give them details on how to donate.
Mr Shea, also known at State of the Art, encourages donations of £50, which can be donated via his JustGiving page. But how did this all come about? He said: “I took a photo of my son watering our plants in the garden and then I noticed a lot of the kids were painting the rainbow and putting it in windows as it was a sign of hope.
“I thought I could use that, with the boy watering the rainbow to grow the hope.
“I painted one at the bottom of my road on my friend’s fence and it got a lot of attention. More people started to notice it and it took off from there.”
During the coronavirus pandemic, the rainbow has become somewhat of a symbol and a way for people all over the country to pay tribute to the NHS.
Mr Shea hopes to complete around 11 murals a day, with each one taking around 30 minutes to complete.
He hopes to keep doing it “as long as I can”.
Interestingly, the majority of the people who have been in touch with him so far have been elderly.
“Normally you get elderly people not liking graffiti but I have done so many elderly people’s homes,” he said.
“The reactions are why I have been doing them. It puts a smile on people’s faces.”
Anyone interested in a mural
I painted one at the bottom of my road on my friend’s fence. It got a lot of attention.
Artist Chris Shea
being painted near where they live is asked to contact Mr Shea on Instagram or email Chrisshea266@ hotmail.com.