An exhibition of work by the artist known as Tagzee, who died suddenly just before Christmas, is planned for Holloway next month.

Tagzee, whose real name was Stuart Williamson, gave away the profits from his artwork to charity, telling friends that he was “wealthy enough inside”.

Glasgow-born, he moved to London in 1976, when he worked in a carpentry and builders’ supply shop in Archway.

He began his life in art when his oldest son, James, bought him a book with street artist Banksy’s work inside as a Christmas present. He flicked through the celebrated graffiti artist’s work and told his son he could do better.

He decided to find an audience in a unique way. Working under the name Tagzee, Mr Williamson would leave his work in public places for people to discover, with an internet address on the reverse so they could find out more if they liked it.

He would hang paintings in trees, leave them in public toilets, and he even created a series that on one side looked like parking tickets and would be left under car windscreen wipers – only for the angry recipient to turn it over and discover an original piece of art.

He sold pieces online, donating the profits to charities close to his heart – those involved with homelessness and the illness muscular dystrophy.

St Paul’s Cathedral and The Royal Academy commissioned works, as did the auction house Christies, which has a piece on display at its head office created by a process Mr Williamson invented that made cardboard look like metal.

In recent years he used his talents as an art teacher for homeless charity SHP, running workshops and teaching art skills.

The 58-year-old, who lived in Kentish Town, died unexpectedly last month.

He was known as a handyman who friends and neighbours came to rely on. A family man, he doted on five children and 12 grandchildren.

The exhibition of his work and celebration of his life is planned to take place throughout February at The Outpost, 546 Holloway Road.

• Keywords
  ARTISTS, OBITUARIES
• Geographical keyword
  ARCHWAY, HOLLOWAY
• Persons keyword
  Stuart Williamson