A spate of suspected Banksys has been spray-painted across England’s East Anglia region, with art lovers and fans getting in on the fun of spotting the new works.
One of the artworks uses perspective to show a couple painted on the wall who are apparently dancing on top of a bus stop while another shows a giant arcade toy grabber above a bench with the people below as its target.
A third shows three children in a rowing boat with one of them using a bucket to bail it out and the message: “We’re all in the same boat.”
Banksy, whose real identity is not known, has not admitted he painted any or all of the eight works that have appeared in towns in Norfolk and Suffolk, but they appear to share his style and humour.
All of the new paintings, including one spray-painted in miniature at Merrivale Model Village in Great Yarmouth, are being inspected by art experts.
"Banksy is adept at recycling stuff left lying around – a bicycle tyre, a pile of sand or… a corrugated metal sheet that doubles as a boat to convey a powerful environmental warning, as the children bail out the sinking ship," said Professor Paul Gough, vice chancellor of Arts University Bournemouth.
"Working at life-size scale, we are looking at a painter in his prime. Very few street artists can use stencils as expertly as this; and certainly no one capable of doing so at speed from a very exposed perch," he said.
For a town used by Banksy, a work can bring new tourists and opportunities but it also comes with the job of properly securing it.
“We’re just as intrigued and curious as everybody else as to whether these could be genuine Banksys. It would be great to think that they were, but we really don’t know,” said Sheila Oxtoby, chief executive of Great Yarmouth Borough Council.
As with many of Banksy’s most-loved works, there is a political message in some of the art. In Cromer, Norfolk, a hermit crab holds up a sign “luxury rentals only”.
“We're not yet sure whether this is a confirmed Banksy creation but we're minded to let tourists and local residents visit the site to enjoy it and make their own minds up, until nature takes its course and the sea removes it,” a representative for North Norfolk District Council said.
In Lowestoft, Suffolk, a child is drawn holding a shovel, appearing to have built a sandcastle and dug up the pavement as well.
Nearby, a giant seagull is seen pouncing on the contents of a dumpster made to look like a packet of chips.
The third new image in the town is on the beach where a rat sits on a deck chair with a drink.
Often, Banksy claims his works soon after finishing them.
The anonymous artist's work has appeared all over the world, including Paris, New York and Bethlehem, and sells for millions at various auctions.
One of his paintings depicting a young boy playing with a superhero nurse doll sold for a record £16.7 million ($23m) at a Christie's auction in March this year, with the proceeds going to National Health Service charities.
Game Changer, which was unveiled in May 2020 at University Hospital Southampton, pays tribute to frontline health workers in their fight against Covid-19.
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
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Where to buy art books in the UAE
There are a number of speciality art bookshops in the UAE.
In Dubai, The Lighthouse at Dubai Design District has a wonderfully curated selection of art and design books. Alserkal Avenue runs a pop-up shop at their A4 space, and host the art-book fair Fully Booked during Art Week in March. The Third Line, also in Alserkal Avenue, has a strong book-publishing arm and sells copies at its gallery. Kinokuniya, at Dubai Mall, has some good offerings within its broad selection, and you never know what you will find at the House of Prose in Jumeirah. Finally, all of Gulf Photo Plus’s photo books are available for sale at their show.
In Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi has a beautiful selection of catalogues and art books, and Magrudy’s – across the Emirates, but particularly at their NYU Abu Dhabi site – has a great selection in art, fiction and cultural theory.
In Sharjah, the Sharjah Art Museum sells catalogues and art books at its museum shop, and the Sharjah Art Foundation has a bookshop that offers reads on art, theory and cultural history.
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
The Transfiguration
Director: Michael O’Shea
Starring: Eric Ruffin, Chloe Levine
Three stars
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Huroob Ezterari
Director: Ahmed Moussa
Starring: Ahmed El Sakka, Amir Karara, Ghada Adel and Moustafa Mohammed
Three stars
How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?
- The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
- The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
- The 188g Smarties egg has 113g of sugar per egg and 22.8g in the tube of Smarties it contains
- The Milky Bar white chocolate Egg Hunt Pack contains eight eggs at 7.7g of sugar per egg
- The Cadbury Creme Egg contains 26g of sugar per 40g egg
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg
Real Madrid (2) v Bayern Munich (1)
Where: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
When: 10.45pm, Tuesday
Watch Live: beIN Sports HD
