The World Is Your Canvas.

As a lover of art, I have always had a great respect and admiration for those artists who are now forever ingrained in our culture, who pushed the boundaries of their time and created pieces that were unique and will always be an important part of art history. The artists who are celebrated in all the great galleries and cathedrals of the world, having left their mark for us to remember them through for generations to come.

While my love of art begins with these classics, I believe that art is everywhere to be found and I like to find beauty in often the most unexpected of places. Even better if there is some sort of message behind the paint brush (or spray can). Street art has been an interest of mine for some time now, because I love the idea of going beyond the canvas and bringing art into the world for everyone to see. Sometimes it's political, sometimes it's satyrical, sometimes it's just great to look at. Whatever the aim of the artist, these pieces create a little moment of unexpected joy in the day of a passer-by, and while their work may not yet have a place in the Louvre (or even be permanent, for that matter), there is some incredible talent out there on the streets.

One of the most famous of the street artists, and a favourite of mine, is the man and the mystery that is Banksy. I remember seeing an auction on eBay a while back where a piece of paper supposedly containing Banksy's real identity was going for an outrageous amount of money, before it was swiftly taken down. Maybe it was legitimate, maybe it wasn't. Personally, I hope it remains a mystery...

Below are just a few of my favourite recent pieces of street art:

You can find more great street art here.