The Smilies

Okay, I am officially defeated and haunted by these cutest of cute yet slightly unnerving smiley faces in bowler hats.  I have tried every Google search I can think of, scoured Flickr and berated myself for not recalling that one reference to them I did briefly see out there in the ether of internet street art commentary.  Arghhh these faces they taunt me, they sit there waiting and they see me coming, and smile down at me as a reminder of my failed detective work to date.  Well either that or I am being paranoid, self referential and melodramatic.  Either way can someone please put me out of my misery and tell me who does these? The prize of the title official far  superior sleuth awaits whoever can answer this, as does the satisfaction of helping the needy and slightly pathological.