Artist who has painted over 600 pieces of littered chewing gum on London’s Millennium Bridge will have to watch most his art get blown away due to repair work

• EXCLUSIVE: Ben Wilson, 60, has been painting over  chewing gum for 11 years
• READ MORE: Locals slam council for spending £19,500 on golden cone display

An artist who has spent years painting over pieces of chewing gum on the Millennium Bridge has been told he will lose most of his art due to repair work on the bridge.

Ben Wilson, 60, also known as ‘Chewing Gum Man’, has been painting over trodden gum on London’s Millennium Bridge for a staggering 11 years.

But now most of his masterpieces – which people travel from all over the world to see – will be removed as the bridge has closed for three weeks for maintenance.

The father-of three, from High Barnet will be allowed to keep 75 of the 600 pieces of art  – and the rest will be ‘blown away’.

Speaking exclusively to FEMAIL, he said: ‘I’m hoping to save as much as possible for the future because I’ve created a form of public art’.

Ben Wilson, 60, also known as ‘Chewing Gum Man’, has been painting over trodden gum on London ‘s Millennium Bridge for a staggering 11 years 

The father-of three, from High Barnet was initially told he would be have to watch his years of art get ‘blown way’ but, speaking exclusively to FEMAIL, he has now revealed there is some hope for the pieces (one piece of art is pictured)  

‘I look after the paintings and maintain them and hopefully I can work with the City Bridge Foundation to save as many of them as I can for the future.’

‘I feel like it’s everyone’s art because the pictures relate the places and people I meet when I work.’

‘It would be a shame if we couldn’t work together to preserve the paintings.’

Ben embarked on the quirky project in 2012, initially as a way of recycling waste and drawing attention to littering.

But the quirky murals have instead drawn a loyal fan base, with people making personal requests.

‘By doing the chewing gum art I was bringing it alive and celebrating the people who walk over that bridge,’ Ben told FEMAIL.

The artist – who began painting outside his home before moving onto the Millenium Bridge – has since erected a unique ‘chewing gum trail’ and has fondly become known as the ‘Chewing Gum Man’.

But the bridge, which links St Paul’s Cathedral with the Tate Modern, closed on October 14th and will remain shut until November 5th for repairs and cleaning.

The father embarked on the quirky project in 2012, initially as a way of recycling waste and drawing attention to littering

People have described the chewing gum paintings as ‘masterpieces’ and have called for them to be protected

Ben paints over the hardened chewing gum using acrylic paint before sealing it using the same kind of blowtorch you would use to make crème brulé.

This means the miniature masterpieces can last for years and cope with any weather.

Ben has also displayed his work all over the world and his latest chewing gum painting project is taking him to Leipzig, Germany.

He added: ‘Art doesn’t just belong on the hallowed walls of the Tate.

‘These paintings are whole world’s and the person can walk by and not see it but if they look closer they’ll discover something.’

Ben is pleading for his artwork to be saved and has launched a petition to help save the trail, which has already gathered more than 5,000 signatures.

Sticky Situation! The artist regularly transforms littered gum into quirky pieces of art like this one

‘The support has been unbelievable and amazing. People have come out in force and hopefully I’ll be able to negotiate with the same force to look after this art because it is art at the end of the day,’ he said.

One person commenting on the petition said : ‘These art works are so fabulously tiny and free. Turning waste into art and our streets into a free for all gallery. What’s not to love!’ 

Others have described the chewing gum paintings as ‘masterpieces’ and called for them to be protected. 

One woman has has spoken out in protest of the deep cleaning after her late grandfather was memorialised in a touching tribute by Ben.

Agnese Placci had her grandad specially commemorated on Millennium Bridge after he passed away, and says the art is a place where she can ‘go and be with’ her grandfather.

He paints over the hardened chewing gum using acrylic paint before sealing it using the same kind of blowtorch you would use to make crème brulé

Ben is taking photos to document as many of his paintings as he can before the bridge is closed so he can place them on his website

She said: ‘Ben’s work on the bridge means the world to me. After my grandfather died he painted a chewing-gum for me.

‘I can find it with my eyes closed. Living far away from home, having this place in London where I can go and be with my grandfather is so important to me.’

Ben is taking photos to document as many of his paintings as he can before the bridge is closed so he can place them on his website.

A City Bridge Foundation spokesperson said: ‘Millennium Bridge is a major London landmark linking two of the capital’s top tourist destinations, and we need to make sure it’s not only structurally sound but is clear of any dirt and debris, including chewing gum, and looks clean and tidy.’

The foundation which looks after five bridges over the Thames also said that they ‘recognise the value of Ben’s art and the fact it is loved by many people’ but they will only be keeping 75 out of 600 of the chewing gum paintings.

Ben will be allowed to pick which ones are kept but he has described choosing as an ‘impossible task’.

He said: ‘So many of them are so personal so there’ll always be people I’ll be letting down.’

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