Amy Winehouse died on 23rd July 2011 and street artists have been paying tribute to the pop star ever since with murals and stencils being painted all over Camden Town. Photos by Buenos Aires Street Art.
Mural of Amy Winehouse by artist JXC in Camden (photo © BA Street Art)
Despite being closely associated with Camden Town, Amy was actually born and grew up in Southgate, north London and moved to Camden in 2003 when she was 20. One of the most striking murals of Amy in recent times can be found near to The Hawley Arms. It was painted in 2021 by street artist JXC to mark the 10th anniversary of Amy’s death.
Tourists visiting mural of Amy Winehouse in Camden (photo © BA Street Art)
Tourists visiting London go in their thousands to Camden each day. Many of course go to Camden Market, while large tour groups can also be seen around the neighbourhood stopping in front of Amy-inspired murals, places where she performed or hung out, while listening to guides playing her music and telling stories about her life.
Mural of Amy Winehouse in alleyway behind The Hawley Arms (photo © BA Street Art)
This mural is hidden in an alleyway behind The Hawley Arms off Castlehaven Road. Amy used to drink at the pub and also worked there for a short time as a bar maid. The boozer was also frequented by celebrities such as Liam Gallagher, Kate Moss and Amy’s ex-boyfriend and Babyshambles singer Pete Doherty. The first floor of the pub has hosted gigs by up-and-coming and well-known bands such as Razorlight.
Amy articles tribute in The Hawley Arms (photo © BA Street Art)
The walls of the pub are decorated with photos of rock legends and you can find a framed collage of articles from music magazines like NME paying tribute to Amy with famous quotes like: “I can’t work with someone unless they know more about music than me. I have to learn from them or it’s pointless.” And: “When I was a little kid it was my dream to go to drama school, but things like that don’t happen to Jewish girls from north London called Amy Winehouse.”
Amy stencil & paste up on Castlehaven Road
Also on Castlehaven Road, we came across this cool black and white stencil by Zen featuring Amy together with a cartoon-style paste-up of the pop legend and the message: “Just right!”.
Mural of Amy outside The Escape sports bar (photo © BA Street Art)
It was well documented that Amy had a battle dealing with drug and alcohol addiction and long-term bulimia. The official cause of Amy’s death was “alcohol toxicity.” Her blood alcohol level was recorded as being more than five times above the legal limit. So it seems rather ironic that there are so many pubs around Camden decorated with Amy Winehouse street art. This striking mural (above) was painted by Mr Cenz on the wall of The Escape sports bar on Lidington Place close to Mornington Crescent tube station. Mr Cenz’s artwork was commissioned by The Jewish Museum and curated by Global Street Art in 2013 with the idea to get artists to paint murals and stencils around the neighbourhood remembering Amy’s life.
Stencil by Pegasus (photo © BA Street Art)
The Earl of Camden is another local pub that has a wall outside decorated with an Amy artwork. This stencil was painted by Chicago-born stencil artist Pegasus.
Sculpture of Amy by Scott Eaton in Stables Market (photo © BA Street Art)
Three years after the singer’s death, Scott Eaton unveiled a bronze sculpture of Amy in Camden Market. In her twenties, Amy worked in the market selling candles. Mitch Winehouse, Amy’s father who had approved the sculptor, said: “Amy was in love with Camden and it is the place her fans from all over the world associate her with”. Be prepared to wait in line with the tourists if you want a photo next to the life-size statue.
Mural of Amy by Otto Schade (photo © BA Street Art)
Across the street from Camden Market you can find more street art featuring Amy. Chilean street artist Otto Schade painted a striking mural of her on Hawley Street in 2011 that he later touched up.
Graffiti & Amy cartoon character (photo © BA Street Art)
Graffiti artists have also included references to Amy in their pieces like this cartoon character (above) that appears to have been painted by Heatoh.
Collaboration between Deanio X & Nathan Bowen
Off Camden High Street, we came across this colourful tribute to Amy created by Nathan Bowen and Deanio X on this brick wall that features Amy cartoon characters.
Stage door – Stencil by Bambi (photo © BA Street Art)
Street artist Bambi is well-known for her stencils of Amy that were painted shortly after the pop star’s passing. Various stencils can still be found around Camden. This stencil (above) is covered with perspex to protect it and features the singer in a yellow dress was on a door along Camden Road just around the corner from The World’s End pub.
Lady in Red – stencil of Amy by Bambi
Bambi, who is known for her stencils of celebrities and figures from popular culture, has painted another stencil of Amy in a red dress just off Camden High Street that can be found on the corner of Pratt Street and Bayham Street.
On her death, Amy became a member of the 27 Club – famous musicians and artists who died at the age of 27 – including Janis Joplin, Jimmy Hendrix, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Jim Morrison and Kurt Cobain.
All photos © Buenos Aires Street Art
(This article was updated in June 2024)
Also check out a stunning Amy Winehouse mural in Buenos Aires
