It can be difficult sometimes to identify unsigned pieces, and it can take a bit of luck swiping through Instagram profiles to reveal the artist. So it was with this piece. I was looking up Mr Sleven for a recently posted poster piece, and spotted this in his feed. Pebnnies dropped and I am freed to post it now.
Mr Sleven, Purdown, Bristol, May 2026
Perhaps the reason I didn’t think of Mr Sleven immediately when I spotted the piece, is that he has been inactive for quite a while. The message is clear, ‘Love Wins’, although the skull with an arrow through it might imply a broken heart, so a little confusing. A heart patterned background is being obscured by a blue dripping sheet of colour. Lots to like about this striking piece.
What a lovely piece by Lupa in Montpelier Park. This little oasis in Montpelier has a rather neglected basketball court, a nicely revamped children’s play park, some greenery and this wall. A compact community space surrounded by buildings. The wall, although not a legal graffiti wall is tolerated, and I’m sure rather enjoyed by locals who use the park.
Lupa, Montpelier Park, Bristol, August 2026
Lupa is a straightforward ‘what you see is what you get’ (WYSIWYG) artist. No frills or pretension just some nicely presented letters and colours. I love her work. The choice of bold colours in this piece works very well, and it stands out, set on the blue bubble background. There is some joy in this piece.
On Monday I have an interview to save my bacon. 16 people for 10 posts. I am the oldest by some margin. Unconscious bias will be on show, without doubt (there is evidence of it in other rounds of this restructuring). Not only preparing for interview, but also mentally preparing to move on from the job I have loved more than any other to date. I know that worse things happen at sea, and I am resilient and experienced enough to move on. Simply annoying and upsetting.
Recently a whole cluster of these illustrative ‘tower’ pieces started appearing in the area around Cumberland Basin, and they are quite unlike anything else I have seen before. If you look closely at one of the rings of the tower you might notice the words Zeks One. So this is by Zeks who we normally think of as a graffiti writer.
Zeks, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, August 2026
I like it when artists latch onto an idea and then start replicating that idea while the enthusiasm for it remains. There is something strangely charming and infantile about the tower, and this one, painted over a Creamylines piece, works well with the existing sun and birds around the top. Watch this space for more of these from Zeks.
The photographs of this combination piece by Sub, is a perfect example of why it is important to take pictures, even if the light conditions (sun/shade) aren’t perfect, because when I returned for a second attempt, the character had been dogged, so we’ll have to make do with these.
Sub, M32 roundabout, Bristol, August 2026
Sub has been steadily improving, and has successfully added characters to his writing portfolio. His letters here are very nicely presented with some pink cloudy smudges, a plasma burst and some horizontal drips. Sitting alongside is a fun ghostly cartoon character – I am not sure if it is a Sub creation or an existing character that he has copied – I am not familiar with it. I just did a little research, and I think it might be a Super Mario ghost King Boo, without his crown. A great commbination piece.
When I first saw this wonderful piece in the tunnel I did’t post it, because I didn’t recognise the artist’s style, and to my shame, I couldn’t read the letters. It took seeing an Instagram post for me to have that ‘of course’ penny dropping moment.
Mr Riks, St Werburghs, Bristol, August 2026
It is by Mr Riks, and it is easy enough to see that when you know, but the framing of the piece within the confined green box and the uniform shape and design of the letters threw me. Needless to say, it is an exceptional piece of graffiti writing, with a great colour scheme and letters that really pop out from the wall.
Ooh! this is a gorgeous piece by Guimeujoven, an occasional visitor to Bristol and an artist who painted a large piece at this year’s Upfest (coming soon). This is a very special piece which in its presentation looks fairly simple, bur is in fact technically excellent and complex.
Guimeujoven, Elton Street, Bristol, August 2026
Starting with the background wall, which is irregular and has real character, like an old wall might. The main character holding a spray can in depicted in solid fill shades. Where the technical brilliance comes in is within the red circle, where the shadings are continued through the piece but in red tones instead of Khaki and greys. Just brilliant and really good to look at.
Doors 370 – Doors of Madeira (part I) – September 2025
I have a busy week or two coming up and then go on a holiday, so I thought I’d get ahead of myself a little and prepare this post last Sunday to aleviate some of the pressure.
This next series of doors were taken during a family holiday almost exactly a year ago in Madeira. My wife and I chose to go there, because of the pleasant September climate, but more to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary and return to Madeira where we spent our honeymoon. Although so much has happened in our lives between visits, Madeira itself had changed very little in the intervening years, which in a way was quite comforting.
These doors are in chronological order and don’t follow any deliberate themes, but as you’ll see some combined two of my interests – doors and street art, in a way that is so satisfying. I hadn’t planned for this serendipity, although others in my family suspected it was contrived.
I hope you enjoy these doors as much as I did:
Doors in a large frame, Rua de Sao Filipe, Funchal, Madeira, September 2025
Iron gates, Rua Das Rosas, Funchal, Madeira, September 2025
Door with flower-decorated panels, Travessa de Joao Ribeiro, Funchal, Madeira, September 2025
Sea scene door, Travessa de Joao Ribeiro, Funchal, Madeira, September 2025
Door with a mural of a fisherman under the moon, Rua de Santa Maria, Funchal, Madeira, September 2025
Door with a Mondrial-style painting with cartoon cats and dogs, Rua de Santa Maria, Funchal, Madeira, September 2025
Abstract door, Rua de Santa Maria, Funchal, Madeira, September 2025
Door with a photograph of a man holding up a scabbard fish (local speciality), Rua de Santa Maria, Funchal, Madeira, September 2025
Just a little taster of some doors from Madeira, and a sense of what is to come from this charming and beautiful Atlantic island. Naturally I felt like I had hit the jackpot when we strolled into this area in the capital which is well known for its painted doors… who knew? More to come next time.
If you have made it this far, you probably like doors, and you really ought to take a look at the No Facilities blog by Dan Anton who has taken over the hosting of Thursday Doors from Norm 2.0 blog. Links to more doorscursions can be found in the comments section of Dan Anton’s weekly Thursday Doors post and his Sunday recap.
j9449j or All 4 Nothing if you prefer is a very different kind of writer. His nature-based anstract writing is nigh on impossible to read, but his decorative style is easy on the eye, and it doesn’t really matter that the letters are so disguised.
j9449j, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, August 2026
This piece has an interesting colour selection choice which on paper probably would look a bit odd, but the blue, white, green and chrome actually looks good – it is unusual to see chrome incorporated into a piece in this way. This is just one of several recent pieces from the artist, who seems to be on a bit of a roll.
This little corner of the M32 roundabout where the footway underpass meets the outside walls has been a popular spot for Daz Cat over the years. It is the perfect size and shape for his cat characters and often left alone by graffiti writers because of the portrait dimensions.
Daz Cat, M32 roundabout, Bristol, August 2026
This is a superb classic Daz Cat cat portrait piece. The sophistication that he brings to his pieces is lightyears away from his early work, and offers so much depth and detail. I love the little close-fitting hat, but the tongue hanging out wins me over completely – a great observation of cats that sometimes strike this pose. A fine piece by Daz Cat.
Natural adventures 