Bob and Roberta

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Writing on the wall spells success for Ben Eine, the artist favoured by David and Samantha Cameron | News

Street artist whose work was given the seal of approval by the Prime Minister has been given the chance to create a giant artwork in central

London.

Graffiti artist Ben Eine was given the blank canvas - a wall in Covent Garden's Mercer Street - to create his work after David and Samantha
Cameron chose one of his other works, 21st Century City, to present to President Barack Obama last year.

Eine, 40, said the publicity that followed the acquisition had been far-reaching. "I recognised it as a potentially life-changing opportunity." And it was. "It turned me from being well-known within the scene into not a household name but at least a lot more recognised name. It made me a safe bet as an artist. Lots of people buy art as an investment."

The Mercer Street project was organised with urban art gallery, Artrepublic, who will be releasing a limited edition print of it, and the London Graphic Centre on whose shop wall it was painted. It is staying up for six weeks. The chance to work on a prime London site was "brilliant," he said. "Spots like that where loads of people are going to see them are normally premium for advertisers."

Eine is now selling enough work to keep him, his wife and their three children in the home in Hastings where they moved after they could not afford to buy in Hackney, where he first started painting.

"David Cameron saved my life," he laughed. "I was massively struggling but now I don't have to worry about money. " He has just produced a 50th anniversary poster for Amnesty International and next week flies to Los Angeles where his work is included in a huge exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art.

He admitted the buzz was greater when you worked illegally. "I passionately believe that a percentage of your work should be without permission. It's what makes street art so exciting."