A mysterious and prolific graffiti artist has died.
Helch, best known for his colourful H tags found on bridges, train lines and underpasses across London and beyond, rose to wider attention when his mark replaced the words on an iconic M25 bridge from "Give Peas A Chance" to "Give Helch A Chance."
His artwork even appeared near Windsor Castle.
East London gallery BSMT Space, which recently hosted his exhibition No Half Measures, announced the news on social media, calling his passing "untimely."
In a statement, the gallery said: "Receiving news today of the untimely passing of Helch has left us broken-hearted.
"It felt like he stepped into our lives out of the ether.
"A triumph of roller graffiti and an East London landmark – I was so drawn to the enigma and mystery of the word I had to find out more."
The artist’s identity has never been publicly revealed, though his signature has become a familiar sight across the capital.
The gallery described him as a "true perfectionist," saying that he would not present anything that did not meet his own high standards.
It added: "Over the past year, his work progressed exponentially; he was coming into his own as an artist."
Fans and members of the public have shared tributes since the announcement.
One person told MyLondon: "Oh my goodness, his mark is on the bridge over the M25.
"I know I’m home when I see it."
Another wrote: "I personally never knew him, but me and my children would always say look there’s ‘HELCH’ when we spotted his artwork in the most random locations.
"This man was not only known to the art world and adults, but to absolute strangers, including children as young as 4.
"May his legacy live on."
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