AS excitement builds around the latest Banksy exhibition in Colchester, the elusive street artist's connections to Essex continue to fuel speculation, rumour and intrigue.
The county already has a firm place in Banksy folklore thanks to his high-profile works in Clacton.
In 2014, a mural depicting a group of pigeons holding anti-immigration placards aimed at a green bird appeared on the side of a building in the town. The artwork made international headlines after Tendring Council removed it following complaints that it was racist, before it was confirmed as an authentic Banksy.
More than a decade later, the incident marks one of the artist's most controversial pieces and strongest link to Essex.
However, some believe Essex's connections to Banksy run far deeper than his public artworks.
One long-standing theory centres on reports that Banksy, widely rumoured to be Bristol-born, spent time in Colchester during the 2000s.
Some have claimed he had links to the town and even used a Colchester printing company, Alphaprint, for some of his early work before the business ceased trading.
Adding to the mystery are claims that prototype versions of Banksy's famous spoof currency, the "Di-Faced Tenner", were created in Barrack Street, Colchester. The fake £10 notes featuring Princess Diana's portrait became one of the artist's most recognisable pieces after thousands were famously dropped into crowds at festivals.
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The Essex street-art scene also has its own links to artists who moved in similar circles. Internationally renowned street artist Adam Neate, who was born in Colchester before studying at Ipswich Art School, emerged from the same era of underground urban art that helped launch Banksy to prominence.
Meanwhile, a now-closed gallery in Colchester's Priory Walk was reportedly run by an associate linked to the team behind Banksy's Dismaland project in Weston-super-Mare, further adding to the web of local connections.
While some of these claims have never been conclusively proven, the uncertainty only adds to the fascination.
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