Artist Banksy - A 14-year-old school boy has been given a painting worth thousands after he helped a stranger pick his belongings up.
Ben Azarya says he was given a signed copy of a print by a man who claimed to be elusive underground artist Bansky. Azarya said he helped the man pick up his paints which had fallen off his bag.
Azarya said the stranger on the Oxenholme, Cumbria train said his name was Robin Banks - several publications including the Daily Mail UK are linking the name of Bristol raised guerilla artist Bansky.
Reports indicate that the man gave Azarya a print of a flower thrower, with a autograph and wished him a good life.
"He was on the phone for most of the time talking to someone called AK47," Azarya said about the man claming to be artist Bansky.
"He opened his rucksack and had a gas mask and spray paints inside. He got out a piece of paper and had colours marked on it of what he had been trying out and he dropped his colours."
"I picked them up for him ad after that started signing it in weird letters ad number. He said 'do you know who Robin Banks is?'
I said no and he said 'this will be worth about £20, 000- have a good life, brother."
The school was grateful but could not connect the dot as to who Robin Banks is-that is until he got home and searched the Internet for artist Bansky.
According to reports, artist Bansky is globally recognized by his distinct work. His pieces are super expensive, they have so far sold an estimated £ 1m. Although his work is recognized, the artist has kept his identity in the background.
"He had a little jacket that didn't go over his arms and jeans with paint on. He looked really wacky and had blonde hair and blue eyes," Azarya describing the main who claimed to be artist Bansky.
Azarya and his mother are in the process of authenticating the print at the Bonhams Auction House. "I will probably spend about £ 1,000 and get a new phone and save the rest," Azarya said if the print is confirmed as genuine.
