Has art guerrilla Banksy been at work in Kings Langley and Bovingdon? (From Watford Observer)

Kings Langley and Bovingdon graffiti reminiscent of art guerrilla Banksy

2:38pm Monday 21st November 2011 in News By Amie Mulderrig

Rumours are circulating that works by the Scarlet Pimpernel of the art world, Banksy, have appeared in Kings Langley and Bovingdon.

Few who have passed through the villages recently will fail to have noticed the “Banksy-style” graffiti adorning buildings and a phone box.

Some residents have taken to the village website’s bulletin board, speculating as to whether it could be the work of the popular artist, whose identity remains a mystery but who counts celebrities including Kate Moss and Brad Pitt among his followers.

In Kings Langley a phone box bears the image of a Native American, while the village post office, which is set to close, bears a slogan “save our post office” and a pair of eyes.

Meanwhile in Bovingdon, at the old Chiltern Jaguar site where Tesco is proposing to build a store, the image of a seated Native American has been spotted.

Has Banksy, who has made his name and fortune with his trademark stencil-style “guerrilla” art in public spaces on walls in London, Brighton and Bristol, turned to villages in Hertfordshire to display his work?

Kings Langley Labour parish councillor Gerry Angiolini said he doubts this latest spate of graffiti has anything to do with the artist.

He said: “I don’t think it’s Banksy because they are transfers and not sprayed directly onto surfaces. My belief is that the person behind it is the elusive CDI, who defaced the village over the year with the moniker ‘CDI’.

“One of the transfers was next to lettering ‘CDI’ so it looks like it could be them, or someone trying to blame them for it.

“The transfers are quite attractive to look at, although a few have peeled off. They looked better when they were complete, not as bad as having ‘CDI’ everywhere.

“Nevertheless, I do feel there should be a zero policy on graffiti, whatever form it takes.”