Graffiti artist Helch, whose giant block-letter murals appeared on motorway bridges and railway viaducts across the UK, has died aged 34, according to multiple reports. The artist, named as Michael Purdy by the Daily Mail, reportedly died following a brief battle with duodenal carcinoma.

Helch, known for his elusive nature and large-scale tags, became widely recognized for painting the word "HELCH" in massive capitals on high-profile structures. His work was seen by commuters on routes including the M4, the M25, and rail bridges heading into London. He was perhaps best known for a 60ft-high mural painted in 2018 on an Edwardian railway viaduct near Windsor Castle, a piece that royal sources claimed upset Queen Elizabeth II at the time.

The Windsor Castle mural

The mural, which was 10ft by 60ft and reportedly painted overnight in 2019, appeared on a railway viaduct near Windsor Castle and was said to have annoyed the late Queen. A royal source told the Daily Mail: "The Queen was extremely upset to hear that this view of Windsor Castle has been turned into such an eyesore." The mural was later removed by railway contractors.

The viaduct had previously been famous for the slogan "Give Peas a Chance," which had evolved from an earlier "PEAS" tag. Helch later painted over that message, replacing it with his own name, which sparked disapproval beyond the graffiti community.

Tributes

Tributes have poured in from the graffiti world. Frontline, an online graffiti magazine, shared a compilation of Helch's work on Instagram with the caption: "Just heard sad news of Helch passing away. RIP Helch." DJ Doc Scott also paid tribute, writing "RIP Helch."

An anonymous graffiti artist told the Daily Mail: "Helch was at the top of his game, having smashed it for years and funded the entire thing himself." Writer Zonk DDS added: "Iconic British artist gone far too soon. Thoughts are with his family."

Career and legacy

Helch's work appeared on bridges at London stations including Notting Hill Gate and Sloane Square, as well as on motorway and railway bridges across the country. In recent years, he had moved into the gallery world, with his debut show at BSMT Space in Dalston, east London, drawing big crowds at the end of last year.

Despite the scale and visibility of his work, Purdy went to great lengths to keep his identity hidden from police and the public. He previously insisted that the word "Helch" had no hidden meaning, explaining that he chose the combination of letters simply because it was a "good word" that looked visually strong and aggressive when painted in thick block capitals.

Further details of his death have not been revealed. MyLondon reported that Helch first adopted the tag when he was 10 years old.