Mystery Graffiti Artists Mock Celebrities Across Newcastle Suburb — But the Council Is Determined to Paint It All Out

A quiet suburb of Newcastle upon Tyne has become an unexpected talking point after a series of bizarre celebrity-themed graffiti appeared across its pedestrian underpasses. In West Denton, anonymous artists calling themselves “The Mellow Birds” have covered walls with strange, tongue-in-cheek statements about famous faces, leaving residents laughing, sharing photos online, and wondering who could be behind the unusual campaign. But while many locals have embraced the messages as harmless comedy, Newcastle City Council has taken a very different view.

The graffiti features an assortment of celebrities, including TV presenters Susanna Reid and Alan Carr, actor Tom Hardy, and presenter Claudia Winkleman. Rather than traditional insults, many of the messages describe celebrities doing oddly ordinary or ridiculous things. One claims that Ross Kemp puts household cleaning product behind his ears, while another jokes that Alan Carr sprays perfume into the air before dancing through it. The absurdity has become a major part of the appeal, with residents regularly stopping to read the latest additions.

The campaign reportedly began around three weeks before The Sun’s October 19 report. The artists initially intended to create fan graffiti promoting singer-songwriter Rose Gray, whose music they admired. The idea gradually expanded into humorous comments about unrelated celebrities, and the reaction from local residents and social media users encouraged them to continue. The group has remained anonymous, communicating with The Sun through messages and describing themselves as people “of a certain age.”

Many residents have defended the graffiti, saying it has brought a little laughter to their daily routines. Some have described the messages as a welcome distraction from more offensive writing commonly found in public spaces. Others believe the unusual slogans have given West Denton an unexpected identity, attracting attention from people far beyond the neighborhood. However, not everyone agrees that the campaign should be celebrated, particularly because some of the writing reportedly covered artwork created by local children and appeared on the sides of private homes.

Newcastle City Council has repeatedly ordered the graffiti to be removed, arguing that it damages public spaces and creates unnecessary costs for taxpayers. Councillor Peter Lovatt said the authority has a zero-tolerance approach to graffiti and urged anyone responsible to stop. He also highlighted the impact on children whose artwork had been covered and residents who were left dealing with unwanted markings on their properties. Although the council acknowledged that some people found the messages amusing, it stressed that humor did not excuse damage to public and private property.

The controversy has continued despite efforts to paint over the messages. According to police, a 33-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and later admitted carrying out vandalism, resulting in a referral for an out-of-court disposal. However, the identity of the wider group known as The Mellow Birds remains unclear. The artists have insisted that their intention was to make people laugh rather than cause harm, and they have even invited the council to consider a more collaborative response. For now, West Denton remains caught between two competing views: a quirky burst of local humor that residents have grown fond of, and graffiti that officials say should not come at the expense of the community.

Source: The Sun