The elusive artist Banksy revealed himself for a mere second to a schoolboy, by handing him a copy of original artwork to say thanks.
14-year old Ben Azarya was travelling on a train in Oxenholme, Cumbria sitting across from a man who spent most of the journey chatting on a phone call.
It was only after the man’s rucksack fell to the ground and Ben helped collect the art materials that had spilled across the carriage, did the stranger start talking to him.
Speaking to
Metro UK, Ben said:
“He was on the phone for most of the time talking to someone called AK47.
“He opened his rucksack and had a gas mask and spray paints inside. He got out a piece of paper and had colours marked on it of what he had been trying out and he dropped his colours.
“I picked them up for him and after that he started signing it in weird letters and numbers. He said “do you know who Robin Banks is?”
The young teen admitted he didn’t know who Robert Banks was, before being handed a sketch which the man then signed.
Ben added: “I said no and he said “this will be worth about £20,000 – have a good life, brother”.”
The school boy later went online to research Robert Banks, suddenly realising the significance of the chance meeting.
Ben and his mum Jan are now in touch with Bonhams Auction House, who are authenticating the artwork.
