Darwin in spray paint unveiled

The work has inspired Josh to set up a business

A former graffiti vandal has given up spray- painting the streets to create a portrait of Charles Darwin.

Josh Peacock's painting of the scientist Charles Darwin, who came fourth this week in a nationwide BBC television poll to find the nation's greatest citizen, is being unveiled in Cambridge on Wednesday.

The style of the work may have taken Darwin by surprise, but and he would almost certainly have approved of the position.

The new work is in the reception lobby of the United Nations' World Conservation Monitoring Centre.

Art business

Darwin had strong links with Cambridge. He developed his interest in natural history while studying in the city.

For the 24-year-old artist, it has been a chance to concentrate on his spray painting without keeping a look out for the police.

"I stick to doing pieces where I can actually spend time on it.

"It isn't fun running around having to leave things half-finished and never getting back to it.

"I like to complete my work. It's worth spending time on it."

He was chosen for the work after the centre's director Mark Collins spotted one of his paintings in a Cambridge hairdressing salon.

Painting the portrait has inspired Josh to set up his own art business.