‘Banksy’ artwork referencing steelworks appears in Port Talbot

World-famous street artist Banksy is believed to have visited Port Talbot in Wales, leaving a new artwork behind that appears to comment on the town’s industrial heritage.

The painting appeared on two walls of a garage in the Taibach area overnight and shows a child playing in the falling ash and smoke from a fire in a skip.

“It’s amazing, an incredible addition to Port Talbot,” said Rachel Honey-Jones, 33, who lives in The Mumbles on the other side of Swansea Bay.

“Everything about it is political messaging, the way the boy has been drawn, the positioning near the steelworks, the fact it was done just after the (Severn Bridge) tolls went down.

“If it’s not Banksy then it’s a very similar artist,” she added.

The secretive street artist, believed to be based in Bristol, usually posts new work to his website or social media, but the Port Talbot piece has yet to make an appearance.

Black dust from the town’s steelworks covered houses, cars and pets in the area in July, a possible inspiration for the artwork.

Residents on social media have been cheered by the addition to their neighbourhood, but Ms Honey-Jones warned that the artwork should be protected by the council.

“People have already taken sledgehammers to it and tried to throw paint on it,” she said, referencing an artist friend who was tipped off to the location overnight and stayed to keep guard.

“It will bring visitors and trade and tourism to the county so it really does need to be protected,” said Ms Honey-Jones.

Neath Port Talbot council has yet to respond to requests for comment.