Queen Elizabeth's Windsor Castle view marred by Helch's graffiti before death

Michael Purdy, the London graffiti artist known as Helch, has died aged 34, outpouring of tributes from fellow artists and admirers who hailed him as a “London legend”.

Purdy’s death was announced on Saturday, with tributes appearing under the poignant banner “Rest in Paint”. 

One of his most notorious pieces appeared in 2019, when huge 60ft-high white letters spelling “Helch” were painted on a railway viaduct near Windsor Castle.

The graffiti attracted particular attention because of its location, with reports at the time claiming the late Queen Elizabeth II was unhappy that the artwork had disrupted the view of the royal residence.

A source told The Sun: “The Queen was extremely upset to hear that this view of Windsor Castle has been turned into such an eyesore.”

Her aides were reportedly asked to explore what could be done to have the graffiti removed and restore the view across to the castle.

Richard Endacott, chairman of the West Windsor Residents Association, was similarly critical of the artwork.

“The Royal Windsor Way is the gateway into our town and is the first view that you get of Windsor Castle,” he said, describing the graffiti as “devastating”.

He argued that the view should be restored, pointing to the millions of visitors who come to Windsor Castle and warning that the graffiti should not become their first impression of the landmark.

Years later, however, Helch had begun to occupy a very different place in London’s art scene.

Now, following his death at just 34, tributes have poured in for the man whose distinctive lettering became woven into the fabric of London.

The circumstances of his death have not been made public, although friends have described the loss as sudden and devastating.

For years, Helch’s name became an unmistakable part of London’s urban landscape.

The Helch phenomenon began in West London in September 2018, when his tags started appearing around Harrow before spreading rapidly throughout the city.

Sometimes, he reduced the elaborate signature to just a single letter, a solitary “H” that became another recognisable mark of his work.

A childhood friend from Hayes paid tribute to the artist, saying: “He made the name Helch when we were kids. He is a London legend but also 1,000% a Hayes one too.”