Michael Purdy, the artist linked to the giant ‘HELCH’ graffiti tag near Windsor Castle, has died aged 34.
Friends paid their respects to Purdy, whose work had developed from large-scale street graffiti into a successful art career. He held a gallery exhibition in December that attracted collectors, while his pieces appeared on walls and rooftops in dozens of countries.
Purdy was named in 2019 as the man behind the 60ft tag painted on a railway viaduct overlooking Windsor Castle. At the time, the lettering was visible to motorists approaching the town along the Royal Windsor Way and prompted complaints about the effect on views of the castle.
Network Rail said the graffiti would be removed, warning that it was dangerous to approach railway bridges and viaducts near live lines.
The HELCH name had appeared across London and beyond since 2018, including on railway infrastructure, motorway bridges and rooftops. The identity of the person or people responsible remained the subject of speculation, although Purdy was widely associated with the work.
In December 2025, BSMT Gallery in Dalston staged No Half Measures, described by the gallery as HELCH’s first solo exhibition and the first time original works by the artist had been made available to the public in a comprehensive show.
