A MYSTERY street artist is bringing a smile to villagers with their middle-of-the-night pavement pictures.
Self-nicknamed ‘Chalksea’ – in a nod to the renowned Banksy – the sketches are finished in chalk and have been popping up on the footpaths of Milford for a few weeks.
No one has so far spotted the elusive artist who has left their work outside the Red Lion pub, Sammy’s Café, The Wash House and the Old Smithy shop, among others.
On Monday night this week the artist struck again by scrawling a bright blue fish outside the fish and chip shop, a glass of red wine outside Melleford and the head of a scarecrow by Milford Club.
The scarecrow had the message ‘Follow the Scarecrow Trail’ in a nod to the forthcoming event which will see people pose scarecrows outside their homes and businesses for people to find. There will be prizes given out on 1st November for winning competitors, and registration is now open for the first of its kind in the village.
The street art started appearing in the village around three weeks ago, and Mark Cummings, owner of the Village News newsagents, says he hopes the identity of Chalksea remains unknown: “I think the mystery adds to it all.”
He started documenting the drawings after coming across them on his early morning strolls with his dogs. He said: “As a newsagent I am obviously up early and one morning I came across three of these drawings and I thought, ‘they are cute’.
“I posted them on Facebook and then as more and more appeared I carried on doing that. The next thing I knew it had exploded. People just love them. I think it’s a real feel-good thing.”
Mark said the art was also highlighting small independent businesses, adding: “There is nowhere like Milford when it comes to businesses like that. We are full of them and they are thriving. We are fortunate that Chalksea is bringing attention to them.
“He is showing just how fantastic the village is.”
This week Mark discovered three new Chalksea drawings and says he is looking forward to finding more. He said: “Long may it continue. It is making people happy and putting smiles on people’s faces.”
Villagers are delighted to have their own Banksy, with many saying how it has made them happy to see their artwork.
One commented on social media: “Keep them coming, love it Chalksea!” Another said: “Chalksea is amazing.”
One holidaymaker said they hoped the artwork would still be there when they visited, saying: “Chalksea you are so talented. Some cheerful news instead of all the doom and gloom. Keep chalking.”
