Banksy-style mural painted on Stourbridge pub wall to mark new era

At first glance it appears that owner Eddy Morton is precariously balanced at the top of a 20ft ladder painting the side of Katie Fitzgerald’s in Stourbridge.

But the eye-catching painting is in fact an illusion and all part of a makeover at the long-standing site which Eddy – who owns the pub with wife Trina – said is to become more events orientated. He said: “This mural is the beginning of the renewal of this venue and represents our community of artists”

He said: “After we’d taken most of the pub signs down, we decided we wanted to do something with the walls. My wife Trina comes from Erdington and said there had been a famous painting there of a man on a ladder and said she wanted the same.” It was done by local artist David Johnson in three days.

He said: “We’re a community of artists here and it represents what we are all about as we have the mural and other people in to paint the walls as part of our refurbishment.

“We have been here for 21 years and we want to make sure that our look represents our community and this venue.”