Never-before-seen photos show Banksy as a teen long before he became the shy ... trends now
These never-before-seen photos show Banksy long before he became the shy superstar artist.
The teenage Banksy - whose real identity is former public schoolboy Robin Gunningham - is shown clowning around with classmates during a ski trip – and in another photo believed to be him, visiting the Berlin Wall before it came down.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the guerrilla stenciller, whose works have sold for millions, was spotted as a gifted artist even back then, when he attended the prestigious Cathedral School in Bristol having started at the then £700-a-term school in 1984.
His creative talents found an outlet not only in art classes, but also on the stage, where, according to school magazine The Cathedralian, he played an ‘Ant Commander’ in his first year in a performance of The Insect Play, and was feted as ‘commanding and having a stage presence’. The same year he was a regular in the Under 12 rugby team.
It’s tempting to wonder whether, had he chosen an acting career, Gunningham the actor’s name might be almost as well-known as Banksy the artist’s.
A teenage Banksy, third from the right, pictured with classmates from the elite Cathedral School, Bristol while on a school trip to Berlin
Banksy, whose real name is Robin Gunningham, was a pupil at the £700-a-term school
At the end of his first year he appeared in 'Sitting on top of the world', described as a ‘wry, witty comedy’.
Gunningham bagged one of the two lead roles, playing Bill, a builder, dangling atop a half-completed tower block.
The Cathedralian picked him out for praise, reporting: ‘Special mention must go to Robin Gunningham for [his] professional and clear performance.’
And he was one of two boys to receive a Junior Acting Award that year, along with an English school prize at 'speech day' held in the 12th- Century cathedral.
The acting continued into his second year at the school when he appeared on stage again as one of the deaf gentlemen in ‘Post early for Christmas’, a one-act comedy set in a busy Post Office and performed during a lunch break in December 1985. He followed that up in May 1986 by playing 'Blue Eyes' in a production of the musical Tin Pan Ali.
By 1987, Gunningham had moved onto debating and was a member of the Junior Debating Society earning the nickname ‘The Guru’.
In his third year, his artistic talent was recognized when his stylized sketch ‘The Time Traveller’ featured in the school magazine, signed with a distinctive ‘R’.
In the spring of that year, he went on the school ski trip to Bardoneccia, Italy, a resort known as 'the Pearl of the Alps' staying at the Hotel Sommellier with classmates and teachers.
Banksy went skiing with his classmates, pictured, several times while at school
Robin Gunningham and Robert del Naja from Massive Attack
Although his real name has been public knowledge for 15 years, thanks to a Mail on Sunday investigation, Banksy's fawning fans connive to ignore this fact
The school magazine reported that ‘the Pizzeria/ Crêperie 'La Fillande' and the local café were the favourite watering-holes. Other aprés-ski delights included a disco and a five-a-side football evening’.
In July 1987, Gunningham took part in the end of term 'Soiree Francaise' - featuring ‘Sketches, Songs, Music, Wine, Cheese, Video’ performed to parents in French.
In March 1988 he returned to the slopes on the school ski trip to Marilleva, Italy, with other pupils on the trip including James Averis, a future Gloucestershire County Cricket fast bowler, who also played
