Spanning an exterior courtyard wall at The Bower near Old Street, this site features a contrast of two distinct street art layers: an elevated chromatic block letter "H" painted by notorious UK graffiti writer Helch, set directly above a detailed, uncredited black-and-grey mythological mural.
ABOUT THE ARTIST:
The upper section features the signature bold letterform of Helch, one of the UK’s most prolific and recognizable graffiti writers, widely known for stamping his massive, clean, serif-style block letters across major railway bridges, high-visibility rooftops, and motorway spans throughout London and the South East.
The lower horizontal mural below Helch’s piece remains by an uncredited artist. Working with controlled aerosol shading in a predominantly greyscale palette, the artist demonstrates a classical fine-art sensibility, combining classical stone-carving aesthetics, heraldic animal forms, and traditional graffiti linework.
ABOUT THE PIECE:
The "H" by Helch (Upper Wall): A crisp, bold block-letter "H" outlined in heavy black with a soft pastel-wash fill, painted high up on the exposed yellow brickwork. Visible paint drips run down the mortar from its base.
Mythological Triptych (Lower Wall):
Left: Decorative, scroll-like calligraphic lettering beneath an illustrative line-work dragon clutching an orb.
Center: A dark, moody scene showing an obelisk monument and a perched raven set against an ethereal, glowing tree.
Right: A crowned, winged lion—reminiscent of London’s historic heraldic statuary—striding forward toward an ornate sculptural human bust enveloped in baroque-style foliage.