Hip British graffiti artist Bansky, whose true identity has long remained a mystery, was thrust into the spotlight Wednesday after the publication of a snatched picture allegedly of him at work.

A man believed to be Banksy, whose works sell for tens of thousands of pounds around the world, was caught on camera working on a new picture in an east London street, according to The Times.

His latest work depicts a huge sunflower, formed by diverting the double yellow parking lines from a street gutter across a pavement up onto the side of a house, flanked by a picture of a paint-roller wielding artist.

But the artist himself was believed to have been caught at work for the first time, by a passerby who took a picture on his mobile phone camera, the daily said.

“We never confirm or deny whether any image shows Banksy,” a spokesman for the artist told The Times, which printed the photo of a black-haired man in jeans a camouflage jacket, with a pollution-protecting mask on his head.

Read More: Wall of secrecy: elusive graffiti artist uncovered?

A prolific graffiti vandal has been banned from the top deck of any public transport bus anywhere in the country.

Billy Murrell, 17, from Plumstead, south-east London, has several criminal damage convictions on trains and buses using marker pens, police said.

It is the first time Transport for London (TfL) has obtained an anti-social order against a “tagger”.

The order also bans Murrell from carrying marker pens or sharp instruments on public transport.

The anti-social behaviour order (Asbo) which is valid for three years, was issued at Greenwich Magistrates Court on 12 September.

Read More: Top deck ban for graffiti vandal