Graffiti artist thanks parents for support by paying off their MORTGAGE

This is the moment a graffiti artist thanked his mum and dad for their support at his university graduation – by paying off their MORTGAGE.

Andy Evans, 22, decided as a teenager that he would eventually pay for the family home after they urged him to follow his dreams of becoming an artist.

So when he sold some art work at a series of exhibitions earlier this year he decided to spent it on mum Jane, 54, and dad, David, 55, instead of himself.

He presented them with a letter at his graduation, informing them he had paid off the final eight years of the mortgage on their family home in Stoke-on-Trent.

A heartwarming video of the moment shows his shocked parents’ mouths fall open before they tearfully hug Andy, who is in his graduation gown.

The payout – which comes despite Andy only working part time for a modest wage – means the mortgage on their two-bed home will be paid off around eight years early.

Humble Andy, who now lives in Manchester where he is a graphic designer, said: “Since I was a little kid, mum and dad have taught me the power of hard work.

“From mum working three jobs to make sure we can do things together as a family, to dad working flat out to ensure food is on the table and the bills are paid.

“At graduation, I was able to finally do something I have spent the last five years trying to achieve – paying off the rest of their mortgage.

“They have always said to me ‘go and discover what it is you enjoy doing, what it is you are passionate about, and do that’.

“I wanted to do it because they have always supported me. I wanted to show my appreciation.

“They have always supported me and pushed me to do whatever I wanted to do.

“When I said I wanted to be an artist they supported me.

“I have always seen them working hard and how they have put me first, and I wanted to put them first.

“I thought that graduation would be a good time to surprise them and it was.

“I think they were pretty overwhelmed at first, but dad told me later that mum was so proud she couldn’t stop crying – in a good way!”

Three years ago Andy started decorating his home and university town of Stoke with “positive message” graffiti under the name Professor Pigment.

His designs which promote the area saw him dubbed “Stoke’s Banksy” and every time a new one popped up, the local media would report on it.

He was finally unmasked as ‘Pro Pig’ in May when the council approached him about plans for an arts trail involving his work, and a short film was made about his work.
His new-found fame saw his artwork sell out at a series of exhibitions in June, and he was able to add to savings he had already put away from freelance design work.

Andy graduated from the University of Staffordshire with a 2:1 in graphic design last Friday (15/7).

After the ceremony he gave his mum, a private tutor and bank worker, and his dad, an insurance worker, a letter saying he had paid off their mortgage.

A video of the moment shows his gobsmacked mum reading the letter which said: ‘Today is a good day for our family – and not just because of graduation – because I can finally do something I have spent five years trying to achieve. I’ve paid off the rest of your mortgage.’

Shocked Jane looks at Andy for an explanation, and then her husband, who is just as bewildered and says: ‘Don’t look at me’.

The video taken by his girlfriend has been watched 17,000 times since Saturday.

Speaking a few days later, Jane said the act of kindness showed her “what a great man he has become”.

She added: “It showed me what a great set of values he has got.

“He is so hard working.

“Sometime if you have just one child in a family they get spoiled, but the fact that he is such a well-rounded man with the right attitude has come through.

“We are incredibly proud.”

Andy, who has just completed his first week as a junior designer at an agency, declined to reveal how much he paid off, but said it was “a few thousand”.