Chewing Gum man

Best known as ‘The Chewing Gum Man’, Ben Wilson is an outside artist who makes the streets of London a little more colourful by painting miniature pictures on pieces of discarded chewing gum. He started six years ago as a way of brightening up his neighbourhood in Muswell Hill, north London, but now creates his 'pavement art' throughout the UK and abroad.

Some friends had told me about his miniature artworks on the Millennium Bridge and it’s something I’d been meaning to capture for my journal. I went over during my lunch break today and, luckily for me, that he was there. I got chatting away with him as he explained his work.

He has created more than 8,000 works of art this way, 400 of which are on the Millennium Bridge. They are usually no bigger than an inch in length and width and can take anything from an hour to 6 to complete.

He says: “I started just doing random pictures - anything that came into my head, but after a while I started getting people asking me for certain things". He takes commissions from members of the public, from tributes for the Tsunami, loved ones, messages of hope and courage, and multicultural societies, to marriage proposals! He has appeared on television and in newspapers, including the BBC and the NY times.

I explained what I was doing with my photo journal and how I wanted to add his art to my journal. He then asked me what was special to me. I mentioned Malawi and how I feel so lucky to have been born there and have a great foundation.

His response: “Right, I am going to paint some art for your home, Malawi. There is a reason everything happens, and you are here now, so let me paint something that is special to you.”

I was touched to have this little beautiful piece of art for Malawi(The warm heart of Africa) painted on the bridge. I really love this idea of transforming something dirty in something beautiful; however, we should still stop throwing our chewing gum on the floor!

Thank you Ben, aka Chewing Gum Man!