Local artist revamps Salford street cabinets with cartoon murals
Street artist known as “Minion Man” is covering vulgar graffiti on Salford’s street cabinets with bright cartoon characters.
Martin Withers, a longtime Little Hulton resident who calls himself “Minion Man,” is transforming graffiti-marred street cabinets in Salford, Greater Manchester, into colorful displays of popular cartoon icons such as The Simpsons and Tom and Jerry. The green cable boxes belong to BT Openreach, and Withers says his aim is to clean up the estate’s reputation and provide children with more uplifting visuals. He first gained attention by painting bollards to resemble the Minions from Despicable Me, a motif that gave him his moniker.
After being diagnosed with epilepsy in 2019, he added a special NHS-themed piece as a thank-you to the health service that helped him. The artist appreciates the encouraging feedback from locals, noting it helps him stay active and feel good about his contribution. A BT Openreach spokesperson welcomed the community-focused use of the cabinets. Withers hopes the murals will continue to brighten the neighbourhood and deter further vandalism.