A TV magician has said he was left in shock after noticing a possible Banksy artwork had appeared on the side of his home. Simon Drake, 68, first noticed the giraffe graffiti on his south London house on Wednesday, September 18, when he returned from walking his daughter to school.
Mr Drake immediately thought the drawing could be a Banksy, as it had a style similar to the famous artist’s work. The magician is best known for his magic series The Secret Cabaret from the 1990s on Channel 4.
He told SWNS: “I saw it and I thought it could be a Banksy. It looks like it’s been stenciled – which I know is his style – and it was a giraffe so it matched his latest work. It also has to must have been done by someone sneaky because I’m a light sleeper – and I didn’t wake up the night before.”
But as the days have passed since the giraffe appeared outside his home, Simon has begun to doubt its authenticity. Mr Drake, who lives in a converted pub in Walworth, Southwark, said: “I know Banksy puts his work on his Instagram and it hasn’t happened yet.
“I’m kind of hopeful it’s not a Banksy I know I’ll be in trouble if it is. People will be here from all over the country – and they’ll try to take it off the wall. It’s my property so I hope that doesn’t happen.”
“There has been a steady stream of visitors”
Although Banksy has not claimed the work as his, locals have visited Simon’s home to see the giraffe. He said: “I put a photo on Facebook and it went crazy. There has been a constant stream of visitors coming by to take pictures.”
“And I’ve had a lot of advice from people. Some have said if it’s a Banksy I have to sell my house! I don’t want to sell my house. I live here!”
Victorian zoo founder Edward Cross imported them from Egypt – and had to find a way to sneak them from Rotherhithe harbor to Walworth without scaring the locals. Simon, who plans to keep the giraffe mural, said: “I love it. I think it’s a really nice thing to have done.
“I’m starting to think whoever did it must know the area’s connection to giraffes. I think it’s someone who’s come to my shows and seen that information on my website.”
Simon’s home also doubles as a ‘House of Magic’, where he hosts a range of fun events – from haunted cellar tours to fortune telling and of course his very own magic show.
You can find out more about Mr Drake’s ‘House of Magic’ and buy tickets here.
It comes after Banksy last month unveiled a series of animal paintings across London. These included a goat, two elephants and even a rhinoceros.
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