Police fail to see joke of giant Archway Tavern toons
French artists’ Archway mural is brought to a halt
Published: 1 October, 2010
by PETER GRUNER
TWO young artists happily painting cartoon characters on the large wall of the Archway Tavern were brought down to earth on Tuesday when police ordered them to stop.
French graphic artists Raphael Reynolds, 24, and his friend Ben “H”, 25, were 30 feet high on ladders at the back of the building, putting the finishing touches to their fantasy work, when the forces of law and order struck.
The men explained that they were inspired by the late New York comic strip artist Vaughn Bodé and had been given permission to “brighten up” the blank wall, by the manager of the pub.
The wall, which is painted black, once contained a large advertising hoarding.
Police, who had been called out by a member of the public, said they believed the building was listed and the artists might need permission for the work from Islington council.
Raphael said: ”We’ve now spoken to Islington council and we are sending them our designs. We believe we should get the OK to carry on but we’ll have to wait and see.”
Meanwhile, Kate Calvert, chairwoman of the Better Archway Forum, welcomed the illustrations as something distinctive and creative.
“They are a delight,” she said, “and far better than some of the garish posters and advertising hoardings that have been put up round the pub.”
Ms Calvert added that the painting at the Archway Tavern, also named The Dusk to Dawn pub, fitted in perfectly with the other local art, including the Charles Manson hitch-hiker by Banksy, just across the road.
• Three years ago the previous owner of the pub wanted to provide late-night lap-dancing but the plan was thrown out by Islington.