Spray Cans, Coffins & Robots: Meet ED209
By Amber Rodgers
When I sat down with local street artist and resident Ed, otherwise known as Ed209, I didn't expect to hear about eco-coffins, monster costumes, or painting a 50-foot wall in China. But that's just how his story goes, full of twists, creativity, and a lot of spray paint.
From Printmaking to Props
Ed's journey began in Brighton, where he studied printmaking at art college. After graduating, he found himself in an unusual job making eco-coffins. It was hands-on work that taught him a lot and left him with transferable skills that he still uses today as a creative.
While in Brighton, he met people who were making music videos in the early 2000s and joined their creative team. He would make props for the music videos, such as a giant monster costume, he even worked with Fatboy Slim! He told me that they would usually create the props and shoot the videos all within a few weeks, so he managed to learn a lot from all of the different projects!
Picking Up a Spray Can
It wasn't until a friend introduced him to spray painting that things really changed. He picked up a can, was taught the basics, and quickly found his style. Even though he's only been doing it for about six years, he's already made lots of connections and some amazing pieces!
Ed209 takes his name from a robot in the 1987 sci-fi film RoboCop. In the movie, ED-209 is a bulky, futuristic law enforcement machine. It's common in the street art world to adopt a tag or alias, and this one gives off a strong, futuristic vibe.
Street art turned out to be a perfect fit as it is fast, expressive, and full of energy. Ed explained that it is a great outlet for people who think differently or struggle with focus. For him, it became a way to turn creative ideas into something real, right there on the wall.
Moving to Shoeburyness
After living in Brighton for a while, he moved to Shoeburyness as a tenant of a leaseholder in a South Essex Homes property. Brighton had become more expensive, and the art scene there was very crowded. In Shoeburyness, he found more space, more opportunities, and a stronger sense of community. He's now been here in Essex for about 18 months and is getting involved in lots of local projects, including a painting project at the Queensway estate which you can read more about in this magazine!
Big Walls and Big Projects
One of Ed's biggest projects so far was with fellow artist Snub23. Together, they travelled to China and painted a 50-foot wall, they were flown out specially for this not once, but twice. He's also fast becoming a regular at City Jam, a street art festival where he first got involved by helping a friend out in 2022. Whilst setting up, he ran into the organisers who found out that he paints and they immediately gave him his own wall!
Art That Lasts
One thing that Ed loves about street art is how it changes the way people treat public spaces. When a wall is left with nothing on it, it's often seen as a blank canvas, and will end up covered in tags. But once a strong piece of art goes up, people tend to leave it alone, or tag in more respectful ways. He explained that there is a certain etiquette behind tagging, where sometimes it can be taken as a compliment to the artist!
He also told me about one of his favourite pieces, a pair of old, tagged double doors he painted in Brighton for an antique dealer. I asked the shop owner if I could paint them. I used metallic gold and made something a bit abstract and surreal. That was four or five years ago and it's still there now untouched.
More Than Just Art
Ed doesn't just stick to walls. He's also teaching himself coding and likes to explore other styles like landscapes. He's especially inspired by the quiet, natural spaces around Shoeburyness and told me that he wants to paint more of them, Shoebury's really peaceful and natural. I'm drawn to wanting to paint it whenever I'm down by the seafront.
Why Art Matters
For Ed, art is more than just decoration. It's a way for people to express themselves, especially if school and traditional paths in life don't work out. Street art is open, experimental, and full of possibilities. Events like City Jam show how exciting it can be to watch artists in action, turning blank walls into something magical.
You can check out more of his work on Instagram at @ed209.uk, or better yet, take a walk around Southend when City Jam is on. You might just spot one of his pieces bringing colour and creativity to the streets.