An artist who transformed a boarded-up shop front with his artwork says he “cannot fathom” why someone would paint over it.

Nick Shaker, who has gained a huge following for his stencil work brightening up walls across Herne Bay, sprayed his latest piece on the front of the former Mascot Bakery in William Street.

With the building owner's permission, he spent two and a half hours on Tuesday night creating the piece with the hope of promoting his upcoming exhibition in Whitstable.

But on Friday morning he cycled past to see somebody had covered the work with thick black paint.

“I know the owner of the property and I saw it was a temporary shop front so I asked him if I could use it,” explained Mr Shaker, who is also a hairdresser.

“He said of course I can.

“I went down on Tuesday night and spent about two-and-a-half hours lining up stencils and letters and it was very well received by the community.

“I came down this morning and it was painted over last night at some point between 10pm and 8.30am this morning.

“I just can’t fathom why anyone would do that but I guess you can’t please everyone.”

It is understood the artwork was painted over after a misunderstanding over permissions with another landlord.

The image of a child with a can of spray paint was accompanied by details of the 44-year-old’s exhibition set to be displayed at Thirty Nine, in Whitstable, a gallery, bistro and Event Space in Oxford Street.

The image was first used when Mr Shaker came up with a creative way to ensure a fly-tipped fridge was removed after being inspired by Banksy.

Mr Shaker, who owns Shakers Hair in Bank Street, grew tired of seeing the appliance after it was dumped outside his salon.

Using his artistic skills, he painted an image of a child holding a can of spray paint on the fridge door with the caption “This is art”.

The image then appeared as a mural on the side of She Rose, a gallery and shop in Mortimer Street.

Then in June, it was replaced with an image showing two children playing among heart-shaped bubbles.

The exhibition called “This is Art” will preview on September 7 before starting on September 8 and October 8.