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Account manager by day, artist by night, Matt Dey from Hengoed is taking his passion to the next level as he asks you to turn your house into a ‘legal wall’ through the Valleys Street Art Project.

After announcing the project only three weeks ago, Caerphilly Observer asked Matt what it’s all about. He said: “The concept is simple. We want to give young artists the chance to express themselves whilst cheering everyone up.

“If someone agrees to turn an outside wall of their house into a legal wall, an artist will come along and turn it into a beautiful piece of art for all to see.”

A legal wall is when a homeowner gives permission for someone to graffiti the outside wall of their house. This can be just one wall, or all walls. Any public facing wall can also be considered a legal wall.

Matt was shocked at the end of last year when he discovered that there were no legal walls in Caerphilly County Borough. 

He said: “I was inspired by the way Bristol particularly embraces art and culture. I began by doing some window painting in lockdown and it has grown from there.

“When I pitched the idea in a few community groups I was taken back by how positive the response was. Art is such a universal language.”

The project has adopted the slogan ‘Your permission, No commission’. It won’t cost the owner of the house anything but they won’t have a say in what the art itself will be or look like. 

“It’s all about creative freedom”, Matt said. “It obviously won’t be anything offensive but we want to give creators free reign. I’ve already decided to paint a Pokemon themed wall when the weather gets better,” he added. 

Riding the wave of enthusiasm, Matt talked about what this project could bring to the area. He said: “We’ve already got seven artists signed up excited to show their work.

“It’ll brighten up the towns and villages across the Valleys and I’ve received messages from people of all ages who are interested in signing up.”

Inspired by the BBC documentary Who Needs Banksy, Labour councillor for Newbridge, Adrian Hussey, took the leap to get his house professionally graffitied last year.

Speaking to Caerphilly Observer, Mr Hussey said how art is more than just something to look at: “Watching that documentary really got me thinking. I put a post up on Facebook and local boy Paul Shepard offered to do the work.

“With everything going on in the world at the moment, a project like this is a reminder that there can be peace and love. It will put a smile on people’s faces.”

After initially considering putting another local boy, Stephen Harrington – better known as pop singer Steve Strange – on the side of his house, Mr Hussey eventually decided on John Lennon and the lyrics of Imagine.

“I’ve had people come from all over to see the work”, the councillor for Newbridge said. “I’ve seen some fantastic examples in other areas and I can’t wait to see similar designs come to Caerphilly.”