AN OXFORD artist is hoping to change the community’s attitude towards graffiti with a new art project.

Andrew Manson wants residents to see “the bigger picture” and hopes to recruit youngsters to show that what some people see as vandalism can be art.

The 25-year-old painter said: “I am working on a project I like to call The Bigger Picture.

“I want to teach and put into action the positive effects of graffiti on the community.

“It gets an unnecessary bad reputation, mainly because it is produced badly and quickly.

“But if given time and energy we could have some amazing new canvases on the city’s less attractive areas.”

Mr Manson, artist in residence at the West Oxford Community Centre in Botley Road, said a meeting was held in November at the town hall to discuss the issue.

He said: “The predominant feeling was the city lacks enough free legal walls.

“There is already a great standard of work produced at the recently renovated and self-funded Wheels Project at the back of Meadow Lane’s park.

“From my knowledge this is currently the only legal spot to paint.

“If we had more spaces and more opportunities like the Wheels Project people would be able to see it as art, rather than rubbish and a detriment to the area.”

Mr Manson, who lives in Donnington Bridge Road, wants to involve pupils from Matthew Arnold School to design and make a temporary mural outside the community centre.

He said: “I met with the art department headed by Ann Hampton and they are keen.

“It’s where I went to school so I really want to start introducing students to this art form.

“I’m going to build a temporary wooden mural wall on the empty space in front of the centre, which we’ll then paint on.”

City councillor Susanna Pressel donated the funds for the wall and the start-up costs.

Mr Manson is in the process of building the wall and hopes the project will take off this year.