REVEALED: Why this note to Wolves' Jeff Shi and ‘super-agent’ Jorge Mendes appeared in Wolverhampton

When Wolves fan Andy Leek recovered from a mental health problem three years ago, he started leaving notes around London to brighten up strangers’ days.

The artist now makes a living off his project Notes to Strangers and his artwork and has penned some of his recent work in his home city of Wolverhampton – many in tribute to owner Jeff Shi and ‘super-agent’ Jorge Mendes.

‘Shi and Mendes Welcome Here’ in Queen Street is just one of a number of messages posted at various locations throughout the city, which are shared on his Instagram account with his 70,000 followers.

The former Wolverhampton Grammar School pupil came up with the idea after a career in advertising.

He sells his pictures, posters and paintings and one day hopes to do some work in the tunnel at Molineux – to give his beloved side a motivational boost before walking out on the hallowed turf.

“Notes to Strangers is an artistic project, mainly in London, but I’ve brought it over to Wolverhampton, too,” said 32-year-old Andy, a former season ticket holder who gets to games whenever he can.

“It’s all about trying to catch people when they’re out and about in hope of making a positive difference.

“The morning commute can be so miserable so I wanted to find a way to help commuters think positively.

“It started off with me leaving notes in newspapers for strangers to find and it made me feel better about myself.

“Then I changed it into street art and posters and this evolved into stickers," he said - one of which is outside the Express and Star office in Queen Street.

“I didn’t’ want to make any money and now it’s my full time job and pays my bills,” he added.

Even celebrities have caught onto the Notes to Strangers project with Made in Chelsea star Millie Mackintosh sharing his work on social media.

With Wolves sitting top of the Championship and on course for promotion to the Premier League – Andy wanted to pay homage to Fosun chairman Shi and agent Mendes.

He added: “When I went back to Wolverhampton, when Wolves were flying, I did some around the city for my friends and family to see.

“The dream would be to get Jeff Shi or Fosun interesting in buying some of my work – either for themselves or to use inside the stadium.

“I put up about 10 around Wolverhampton in total. They don’t always last – there’s one about pork scratchings by the train station and another in the city centre.

"It’s always about things that are very close to my heart and stuff that’s specific about Wolverhampton.”