A GLASGOW street artist has been brightening up people’s lockdowns by offering free original artwork to anyone who wants it.

The artist, who asked his name be kept off the record, paints under the alias Negative Destination and has his colourful creations all over Glasgow, with completed commissions at SWG3, Kelvingrove’s InnDeep and The Barn Youth and Community Centre in Gorbals.

He said: “The reason I do it ... It started out as a simple act for myself, a chance to be a bit creative.

“I’ve always been inspired by different street art, but especially when you see paintings done by people that have clearly never done them before, as well as the huge murals.

“In Glasgow we have a lot of people writing their names on a wall but nothing fun, colourful or eye-catching. I want to paint so people smile when they walk past, it isn’t just a grey city.”

He explained how, since his normal work had dried up during lockdown, he had looked for other ways to spread some happiness, by offering his artworks for free on Instagram to anyone willing to collect them, while maintaining social distance.

“I love to see the smile on people’s faces and I love the idea of getting art to people who want it, but who might not be able to afford it,” he added.

One person lucky enough to get a piece of original artwork was four-year-old street art superfan Hunter. His mum, Sarah, said: “He was so chuffed, so happy. He talked about it non-stop. The piece is up in his bedroom so he sits there in bed looking at it and every morning he talks about which character is his new favourite.

“Him and his father go out for bike rides a lot, and he is only four, and he just loves the graffiti around town, especially the work of Negative Destination. Every time he posts on Instagram that he has a new artwork they go out on the hunt.

“It’s something to do that is great fun. It’s like a treasure hunt for a little kid, when there’s a new one.

“It really makes him open his eyes and look at what’s around him and start noticing things he wouldn’t normally look at.”

The power of art to help people’s mental health is well-documented, and especially valuable under the difficult conditions imposed by the lockdown.

A spokesperson for the Scottish charity Art in Healthcare said: “We have found that for people who are isolated by the current lockdown or by health issues, art serves many important needs.

“Creating art allows people to express the way they are feeling and to take pleasure in producing something they can keep and

display.

“Art on display, whether created by oneself or another, brightens and humanises any environment.

“It also provides welcome distraction from boredom and worries and gives people something beautiful to focus on.