I thought yob had vandalised my door but it was a secret Banksy – I took it on Antiques Roadshow and sold it for £563K
WHEN youth club boss Dennis Stinchcombe spotted a piece of graffiti art sprayed onto the door, he had no idea about the impact it would have on his life.
The 66-year-old from South Gloucestershire, who runs the Broad Plain and Riverside Youth Project, was impressed by the artwork, which showed two lovers embracing while both staring at their phones.
Two days later he discovered the artist behind the piece - entitled Mobile Lovers - was the mysterious Banksy, after a swarm of fans and film crews descended on the club, then on the brink of closure.
It turned out Banksy was a former member - and this was his attempt to help keep the project alive.
Dennis took the artwork onto the Antiques Roadshow, where it was valued at a staggering £400,000.
It was one of the newest pieces the show had ever seen – and ultimately saved Dennis’ youth club from closure.
He says: “Established over 128 years ago, the youth club I run is one of the oldest in the country and keeping it going has been my life’s work.
“We help hundreds of children every year, providing a safe space where they can go and keep them off the streets, and I’ve helped run it for 46 years - so I was devastated when financial troubles threatened to close us down.
“Things came to a head in 2013 when I had a triple-heart bypass and spent six months in recovery.
"Looking back, I think in part this was caused by the stress of constantly trying to secure funding to keep the centre open.
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“We were six months from closing, and once I was better we started a new fundraising campaign.
“Banksy – who, unbeknown to me, had been a member of the club when he was around 14 - must have read about it.
“Coming into the centre one morning, my son and I spotted a piece of artwork on a door outside the club, portraying a couple on a date.
“But instead of staring into each other’s eyes, they’re looking at their phones, hence the name ‘Mobile Lovers'.
“I thought it was amazing, but didn’t for one second think it was a Banksy – until suddenly two days later, loads of people descended, after the artist himself had posted a photo of the piece on his website."
Row with council
Dennis admits he "thought there'd been a murder" by the amount of cameras and film crew outside.
While Dennis was thrilled to have an authentic Banksy etched on the door of his club, a fight them broke out with the council over who owned it.
Luckily, the artist himself settled the dispute.
Dennis says: "Banksy sent a letter to me confirming it belonged to me, and it was stored in the museum for safe keeping.
It was valued at £400k, and later sold for £563k. I can genuinely say it transformed and changed the lives of so many
Dennis Stinchcombe
“Appearing on Antiques Roadshow was an amazing experience, and our piece was one of the newest pieces they’d ever had on the show.
“While it wasn’t an antique as such, it had such a story behind it and meant so much to us, making it as interesting as any of the much older, historical objects brought on the show.
“It was valued at £400k, and later sold for £563k, with £403k going to the club.
“I can genuinely say it transformed and changed the lives of so many."
Priceless
Dennis and his team donated £96k to other youth groups in the area, which he says has helped thousands of young people access youth work.
They were also able to buy two new mini buses, as well as install central heating and replace old equipment.
Dennis adds: “Most importantly, we were able to keep going.
“In monetary terms, the art was sold for hundreds of thousands, but to us it was absolutely priceless.
"I can’t thank Banksy enough.”
To us, it was priceless - I can't thank Banksy enough
Dennis Stinchcombe
Despite his worldwide fame, Banksy's identity has never been revealed.
For years, he has created complex street art using the cover of darkness to keep his anonymity.
His work has been spotted around the south of England, including London, Brighton and Bristol, although his art has often popped up in prominent international locations.
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According to , Banksy's estimated net worth is $50million (£39.6million).
Earlier this week we told how a retired farmer learned his "old plant pot" was valued at £10,000 on the Antiques Roadshow – but later sold for a whopping £668,000.
