Southampton's Banksy murals: Where can I find them and are they the real deal?

Banksy, the elusive Bristol-born artist, has daubed his controversial murals across the globe, and Southampton is home to quite a few.

However, the city is also home to a number of copycat murals that lave people wondering if the artwork really is that of the infamous anonymous artist, or that of a Banksy fan.

Here are all the Banksy (or fake-Banksy) murals across the city:

Bevois Valley

Banksy, Bevios Valley

In 2011, a piece of his artwork was discovered on a 6ft white garden wall of a privately-owned terraced house in Bevois Valley.

Hordes of people travelled to take photos of the eye-catching drawing of a monochrome young boy sat on a pavement holding a balloon with the words “No Future” in red letters above.

Experts estimated that the work could have been worth more than £20,000 and it's thought that the urban warrior may have sprayed his iconic stencil en route to the Isle of Wight.

But just days after the artwork appeared, the mural was destroyed by vandals who covered the piece in white paint.

Shirley Road

Fake Banksy, Shirley Road.

Just months after the "No Future" mural, another similar piece appeared in Shirley.

The artwork has been created on the side of New Century Bingo in Shirley Road and features an almost identical figure to one in Bevois Valley.

However, an art industry insider doubts the painting is a Banksy original.

The man, who the Daily Echo is not naming, said: “It’s very unlike him to repeat his stencils and I haven’t heard that he’s been in Southampton at all. I can’t tell for sure but I’m pretty certain it’s not a Banksy. Once one Banksy appears in a city, you often get copycat graffiti.”

Almond Road

Fake Bansky, Almond Road.

In February 2011, another copycat piece was found within the city on Almond Road.

The work depicts a man swinging a sledge hammer at a TV with the words "kill television" painted in red.

On closer inspection, the mural is just a replica of a Banksy work found in Wapping, London.

With Banksy-style stencils available on the internet for as little as 99p, following in the renowned artist’s footsteps is all too easy.

Asylum Road

Fake Banksy, Asylum Road.

In April 2013, the wall of a building in Asylum Road was daubed with a mural of a police officer leaning against a door with the caption: "I used to be a florist".

However, experts were quick to dismiss speculation that the graffiti could have been done by Banksy.

Tristan Manco, a Bristol-based art expert, author, graphic designer and lecturer, said: “I would say this is 100 per cent not a Banksy. It’s too simply cut, not drawn well enough, terrible legs and feet, badly over-sprayed and under-sprayed.

“There is no ironic humour or double meaning to it. In short, not a bad attempt at a stencil but not comparable to a real Banksy.”

Banksy, Mount Pleasant Road.

Just last year, a new mural appeared in Southampton on Mount Pleasant Road.

It shows the figure of a child holding a balloon with the words "our future" sprayed across the top.

It features an almost identical figure to one in Bevois Valley that the Daily Echo revealed to be the work of Banksy in November 2010.

Gallery owner and Banksy “expert” John Brandler said it is possible that the new mural is a real Banksy piece.

John, the owner of Brandler Galleries in Brentwood, Essex, said: “It is very difficult to judge from distorted and angled photos to see if this is real.

“It is not unknown for Banksy to go back to old murals that have been damaged.

“So maybe he has gone back.

“I would say there is a 60 to 70 per cent chance [it is real], but we need to see what he put on his website.”

University Hospital Southampton

Banksy, UHS.

Southampton's biggest hospital was gifted a piece of Banksy work during the first wave of the pandemic to thank NHS staff for their hard work.

The painting, depicting a child playing with a nurse superhero doll, was sold at Christie's last month in the 20th Century Art Evening Sale.

The painting, titled Game Changer, was sold for £16,758,000 and all proceed from the sale will be used to support health organisations and charities across the UK that enhance the care and treatment provided by the NHS.

On May 6 last year, the painting by Banksy was gifted to University Hospital Southampton during the first wave of the global coronavirus pandemic.

When first unveiled, the picture was accompanied by a note: "Thanks for all you’re doing. I hope this brightens the place up a bit, even if it’s only black and white."

Banksy’s gift to the hospital was always intended to be sold.