Artist claims mystery memorial plaque calling out cheating husband was stolen from his design

A row over a mystery memorial plaque isn't the usual sort of scandal which unfolds in the art world, but well, there is a first time for everything.

You might already be aware that earlier this week, an unusual tribute bench appeared in Clifton, Bristol, which was emblazoned with a few choice words for a bloke named Roger.

The plaque that adorns the weathered wooden bench, which turned up on Royal York Crescent, is engraved with a snarling message which brands the apparently deceased bloke a love rat.

It reads: "For My Love. 06.09.69 – 25.12.23. Husband, Father, Adulterer. Yes, Roger, I knew."

It's sparked some scintillating gossip among locals, with a lot of people reckoning that it seems like the work of a scorned woman who was fully aware of her late fella's philandering all along.

Tom Wren/SWNS

But other people think the smirk-inducing memorial plaque has Banksy written all over it, especially due to its close proximity to another of the elusive spray painter's betrayal-inspired pieces, the 'Well Hung Lover' mural.

The artist has neither confirmed nor denied his involvement in the stunt, although a lot of residents suspect that Roger might be completely made up - especially as his birth date is supposedly 6/9/69.

Others wonder if it might be an elaborate joke made by a lesser-known artist who was hoping to make a splash on the creative scene.

But so far, no one has laid claim to it or taken credit for the memorial plaque which has left adulterers around the world quaking in their boots.

However, a UK artist has now claimed that the piece is pretty much a 'word-for-word' copy of his work.

Instagram/@themisfortuneteller

The Misfortune Teller has slammed the unknown 'copycat' for imitating his distinctive design which he claims to have first created four years ago.

He claims the concept for the plaque on the bench in Bristol was taken 'from one of the first ones' he had 'mocked up'.

Speaking with the BBC, the London-based creative said: "I made it four years ago on Photoshop and posted it to Instagram on 15 August. They [the bench plaque creator] actually copied it word-for-word, apart from a comma.

"I don't understand the motivation - unless they are a super fan.

"Most people would say 'shut up just enjoy the attention', but this is how I make my living.The world of funny memorial plaques isn't just mine, but it's a wholesale word-for-word theft.

Tom Wren/SWNS

"I'm not angry. All I want is clarity. The meme culture is just so strong that by the time you realise it's been stolen, everybody has shared it and they're 1,000 memes ahead," he added.

The artist wasn't as reserved when he wrote out an Instagram post hitting out at reports which suggested that the plaque pun might have been thought up by Banksy, though, as he fumed: "It’s not Banksy’s; it’s f**king mine!"

The caption said: "So apparently some utter, utter t**t in Bristol has stolen one of my plaques ideas and put it on a bench. "The audacity…"

Seen as though locals in Clifton say the bench has now become a 'mysterious tourist attraction', you can see why The Misfortune Teller might want to make it clear that he deserves the credit.