Street artist ‘‘Phlegm’’ has brought his latest solo work to his home town of Sheffield, where Mausoleum of the Giants is on display at Eye Witness Works, a former cutlery factory on Milton Street.

The illustrator and cartoonist previously earned worldwide recognition and acclaim for his intricate murals and impossibly-small copper engravings and ink drawings.

Now he has gone big, by switching to larger-than-life three-dimensional versions of his own iconic characters.

Producer Tamar Millen views one of the artworks on display during the Mausoleum of the Giants, a solo show created by artist Phlegm at the Eyewitness Works in Sheffield. Danny Lawson/PA Wire

And the people behind the exhibition say the location is perfect for this type of artistic expression.

A spokesman for the exhibition said: “Sheffield as the stage for this epic showcase was no accident.

“With local industrial buildings often forming the backdrop for his murals in the city, an old factory complex is the perfect location for presenting such a poetic and personal undertaking and bringing Phlegm’s iconic characters to life.

“Imagined as beings whose life spans over thousands of years, these peaceful beasts have seen rivers erode and mountains change.

“With their final days coming slowly but surely, the giants are ready for their eternal rest, giving everyone enough time to meet them, mourn them and make peace with their ending.”

Graffiti is one of the most controversial forms of art. Once regarded as little more than vandalism, it has in recent years become more of a mainstream artform.

Controversies over graffiti continue to create disagreement amongst authorities, police and artists who wish to display and appreciate work in public locations.

Mausoleum of the Giants can be seen at Eye Witness Works in the Sheffield’s Devonshire Quarter from today until Saturday, April 6.

Sleeping giants at large in Sheffield factory