Mystery boy: Robin Gunningham in 1989 when he was a pupil at Bristol Cathedral
School
Banksy uncovered: The nice middle-class boy who 'became the
graffiti guerrilla'By James TapperLast updated at 11:48 PM on 12th
July 2008He is one of the art world’s most famous names – whose graffiti
works sell for hundreds of thousands to fans including Brad Pitt and Angelina
Jolie.But for years the true identity of the artist Banksy has been a
closely guarded secret, known to just a handful of friends.Now a Mail on
Sunday investigation has uncovered compelling evidence suggesting that the
artist is former public schoolboy Robin Gunningham.The notion that
Banksy is Gunningham, 34, who was educated at the £9,240-a-year Bristol
Cathedral School, will shock the artist’s fans, fond of their hero’s
‘anti-establishment’ stance.Banksy has become renowned for his use of
stencils to spray illegal images on public walls. Some councils and businesses
have begun to protect his creations and his works have been sold to celebrities,
including Jolie and Pitt.Rumours have persisted that the artist is
called Robin Banks, that he is from Bristol, and that his parents think he is a
painter and decorator.The only concrete clue until now has been a
photograph taken in Jamaica four years ago of a man with a bag of spray cans by
his feet.Gunningham’s former school pal Scott Nurse said: ‘He was one of
three people in my year who were extremely talented at art. I am not at all
surprised if he is Banksy.’Records reveal Gunningham once lived with
artist Luke Egan, who later exhibited with Banksy. Mr Egan initially denied
knowing Gunningham but later admitted he had lived with him.Robin
Gunningham (Banksy?) in 1989 at Bristol Cathedral SchoolMystery boy:
Robin Gunningham in 1989 when he was a pupil at Bristol Cathedral
SchoolAsked if he was saying Gunningham was not Banksy, Egan said:
‘Well, he wasn’t then.’Around 2000, when Banksy moved to London,
Gunningham relocated to a flat in Hackney. A number of Banksy’s most famous
works have appeared nearby. At that time Gunningham lived with Jamie Eastman,
who worked for the Hombre record label – which has used illustrations by
Banksy.People who know Gunningham are now unable to say what has become
of him. His father Peter, who lives in Kingsdown, Bristol, denied that the man
in the photograph was his son, and his mother Pamela was surprised by the
picture, then denied she even had a son, let alone one called
Robin.Banksy’s publicist would neither confirm nor deny whether the
artist was Robin Gunningham.
