Battle Cancer Graffiti Paint Jam in Leake Street

A paint jam to battle cancer took place in the Leake Street tunnel. It was taken over as a whole bunch of graffiti artists gathered to raise money and awareness for Cancer Research.

It isn’t the first time the tunnel has been used in this way. The F**K you Cancer event in 2013 was one such occasion. This was when the graffiti and street art communities first came together to do what they do best. A year later they came together once again to pay tribute to popular artist Ben Naz. He had sadly lost his battle with the disease after fighting a long battle.

The tunnel always looks so different with many artists visiting each day.
The tunnel always looks so different with many artists visiting each day.

Painting in the Tunnel

This time, the battle cancer event in the Leake Street Tunnel was a human response to the discovery that a loved one had breast cancer. Speaking on the event page organiser Charlie Pugh said “I want to do something, I’m not sure what? Painting is some thing I do and something I love. It gives me a voice, it’s loud everyone can see it and it says listen to me.”

His wife Alice had been diagnosed only three days before and the Battle Cancer event was a means of raising money. Something that it’s still possible to do via the Just Giving page.

Oliver Roubieu and his tribute to Alice and Charlie
Oliver Roubieu and his tribute to Alice and Charlie

So for this post nothing else needs to be really said other than to enjoy the art. Nothing lasts for long in Leake Street. However the point of holding a jam here is just to get people together. To provide a safe and legal place for the public to come and see the artists in action. What better means of doing so than to create a whole bunch of huge murals in order to help battle cancer.

The Battle Cancer paint jam took place on Sunday 5 July 2015. At the time of writing has raised over £1500 for Cancer Research. The Just Giving page can be found here and the original facebook event page can be found here.

Battle Cancer Paint Jam Gallery

The sign at the entrance to the tunnel
The sign at the entrance to the tunnel
The always hugely popular Roo painted a sausage dog
The always hugely popular Roo painted a sausage dog
Sky High with his almost finished piece
Sky High with his almost finished piece
The hugely talented Oliver Roubieu's work probably one of the highlights
The hugely talented Oliver Roubieu’s work probably one of the highlights
The very talented JXC has been making his mark recently.  This Hit Girl was a real treat to see
The very talented JXC has been making his mark recently. This Hit Girl was a real treat to see
Girl blowing bubbles of hope by Gnasher
Girl blowing bubbles of hope by Gnasher
The completed 'Real Dill' piece brilliant as ever
The completed ‘Real Dill’ collaboration with Dakoh
The Real Dill photographs his work
The Real Dill photographs his work
This looks like it's been tagged 'Susan Arthur' but I'm not sure if this is the name of the artist or not
This looks like it’s been tagged ‘Susan Arthur’ but I’m not sure if this is the name of the artist or not
Susan Arthur tag a bit closer up
Susan Arthur tag a bit closer up
Work from PAD, a popular artist known for his marvel characters which he often paints in the tunnel
Work from PAD, a popular artist known for his marvel characters which he often paints in the tunnel

A lot of the artists who created work on the day I wasn’t too familiar with so if anyone knows who they are drop me a line and I’ll tag them in.

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For more articles featuring the Leake Street Tunnel have a look at:

WOM collective all female paint jam at the Leake Street Tunnel

Portraits of Child Soldiers appear in the Leake Street Tunnel

Lumiere Festival takes place in the Leake Street Tunnel

5 Comments

  1. Looks like some very good pieces! I walked by the entrance on Sunday and now wish I’d convinced my friends to pop in quickly! (Wasn’t too keen at the time as we were carrying luggage.)

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