Before

                           After

Lynne Featherstone MP has today written to Haringey Council, requesting information regarding the disappearance of portrait paintings in Muswell Hill. The Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green was alerted to the disappearance via twitter.

The public portrait display was of local traders, who are speaking out in support of local trade as part of a global art project called Inside Out.

The artist, Matt Humphrey, had wanted to ‘give a face’ to the plight that independent local traders, shopkeepers and creatives are currently facing.

The pictures had attracted a lot of attention, from local press and local residents alike. However, they now have been washed away.

Commenting, Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“Just a few weeks ago I met the artist and saw the portraits of local traders. They were wonderful and it is so sad that they have been lost.

“First, our Turnpike Lane Banksy mysteriously disappeared, and now these wonderful portraits have been washed away.

“More needs to be done to protect high quality public art. It adds vibrancy and originality to our streets and can encourage visitors, which is good news for local businesses.

“The building owners did not remove the art, so I have now contacted Haringey Council to try to find out what has happened.”