7232. M32 roundabout J3 (780)

Dun Sum, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2026
Dun Sum, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2026

This is an interesting fantasy creature piece by Dun Sum that cleverly makes use of a recent feature on this wall. The layers of paint on popular walls builds up over time and every once in a while a chunk of paint, up to an inch thick will peel away, as has happened here.

Dun Sum, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2026
Dun Sum, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2026

Dun Sum has painted a bird’s head holding a long nail in its beak. I don’t know what this means or if there is a story here, but the creature is nicely framed in the gap left behind by the peeling paint. Always good to see artists incorporating their surroundings into their work.

7231. Headingly Lane, Leeds

James Archer, Headingley Lane, Leeds, June 2026
James Archer, Headingley Lane, Leeds, June 2026

I recently went up to Leeds to fetch my daughter and all her possessions from her student flat to return to Bristol for the summer. Since she wasn’t even awake when I arrived (there’s a surprise), I had about an hour to kill, so I went for a little walk – eyes open of course. At the top of her road I was lucky enough to find this stunning piece by James Archer.

James Archer, Headingley Lane, Leeds, June 2026
James Archer, Headingley Lane, Leeds, June 2026

I know nothing of the artist, but this looks like a commission on the wall of a letting agency, which incorporates the letting theme in the neon lights. The subject matter and East Asian style is not too far removed from Dan Kitchener’s Tokyo cityscapes, although a little softer in presentation. A rather nice surprise and unexpected bonus on my day trip to Leeds.

It is possible this is the same J Archer who painted this portrait piece in St Werburghs tunnel last year:

J Archer, St Werburghs, Bristol, June 2025
J Archer, St Werburghs, Bristol, June 2025

Hot

.

Out of the kitchen

simply couldn’t stand the heat

nowhere to cool down.

.

by Scooj

7230. Sparke Evans Park (153)

Solar, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, June 2026
Solar, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, June 2026

Solar is smashing it out of the park everywhere I look at the moment. He seems to have upped his game over the last few months and is reaching new level of confidence, creativity and execution.

Solar, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, June 2026
Solar, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, June 2026

This is a banging piece on the long wall at Sparke Evans Park. The irregular letters, fringing on anti-style, have a space age look to them, with the ‘S’ looking like a space ship and the ‘R’ looking like the visor of a space helmet. All of this might be just what I see, but it is now difficult for me to unsee it. Definitely a fresh and vibrant piece of writing from a writer at the top of his game, so far.

7229.Greville Smyth Park – Upfest 2026 (25)

Willl Cross, Upfest 2026, Greville Smyth Park, Bristol, May 2026
Willl Cross, Upfest 2026, Greville Smyth Park, Bristol, May 2026

I fell in love with Willl Cross’ work a few years ago when he first painted at Upfest 2022. I have seen several of his works since then and each one is a beauty. His classical style, probably best suited to canvas, takes contemporary scenes and makes them appear as if they were painted in the 19th century. Very clever and very beautiful.

Willl Cross, Upfest 2026, Greville Smyth Park, Bristol, May 2026
Willl Cross, Upfest 2026, Greville Smyth Park, Bristol, May 2026

This piece looks like it is portraying a festival of some kind, with two blindfold women dancing around a fire, while others look on. It all feels a bit pagan if you ask me, but I rather like that. I must ask Willl Cross all about if if I get lucky enough to meet him again.

7228. Greville Road – Upfest 2026 (24)

Will Blood, Upfest 2026, Greville Road, Bristol, May 2026
Will Blood, Upfest 2026, Greville Road, Bristol, May 2026

I am quite a big fan of naïve-style street art, because it mimics the world seen through youthful eyes, but painted by an adult. It is all much more sophisticated than it might look at first glance.

Will Blood, Upfest 2026, Greville Road, Bristol, May 2026
Will Blood, Upfest 2026, Greville Road, Bristol, May 2026

This is a charming piece by Will Blood, and occupies a prestigious wall over the Hen and Chicken restaurant and bar – stalwarts of Upfest. A line-drawn Godzilla character, with googly eyes, is stomping across an urban landscape wreaking havoc. Fire and destruction, and some smiling stick people – definitely a world created in a child’s imagination. Nice piece from Will Blood.

7227. Greenway Bush Lane – Upfest 2026 (23)

Zebra Pozer, Upfest 2026, Greenway Bush Lane, Bristol, May 2026
Zebra Pozer, Upfest 2026, Greenway Bush Lane, Bristol, May 2026

The range of pieces at this year’s Upfest was notable from extreme high-end murals to regular Bristol graffiti writing and pretty much everything in between. This is a vibrant doodle-style piece by London-based Zebra Pozer.

Zebra Pozer, Upfest 2026, Greenway Bush Lane, Bristol, May 2026
Zebra Pozer, Upfest 2026, Greenway Bush Lane, Bristol, May 2026

The artist claims that he isn’t seeking perfection but bringing spontaneity and fun to his work, and I can completely buy in to that philosophy. Set on a pink background, the characters in this piece are crammed together and splashed with pinks, blues and yellows that breathe life into the black outline folk. Something a little different.

Marbled White

Marbled White butterfly (Melanargia galathea), Lawrence Weston, Bristol, June 2026
Marbled White butterfly (Melanargia galathea), Lawrence Weston, Bristol, June 2026

.

Marbled White flutters

stops, starts, stops and starts again

photography trial

.

by Scooj

7226. Willway Street – Upfest 2026 (22)

Stephen Quick, Upfest 2026, Willway Street, Bristol, May 2026
Stephen Quick, Upfest 2026, Willway Street, Bristol, May 2026

I have always admired Stephen Quick’s pop art stencil pieces and have met him many times over the years and told him as much. I even have one of his signed prints hanging up in our kitchen – my wife likes his work too, which I have to say is no small endorsement!

Stephen Quick, Upfest 2026, Willway Street, Bristol, May 2026
Stephen Quick, Upfest 2026, Willway Street, Bristol, May 2026

This gorgeous large piece is most likely not a stencil, but freehand with a stencil look about it. The strong female portrait is accompanied by the empowering words “rage makes me feel pretty”. The speech bubble is actually on a cut-out piece of wood and bolted to the wall, standing proud of it by a few inches. I love this piece. The style, the clarity, the message – it is all good.

7225. Stillhouse Lane – Upfest 2026 (21)

Zabou, Upfest 2026, Stillhouse Lane, Bristol, May 2026
Zabou, Upfest 2026, Stillhouse Lane, Bristol, May 2026

In simple terms of the artwork alone, I think that this might have been the most successful Upfest to date, although I think it has lost a lot of its pull for local people by dropping the festival element in a park with music, painting and food. I know that there are good reasons for this change, which the organisers can do little about, but it has made a profound difference to the vibe of the event. One of the pieces that made this Upfest special is this beauty by Zabou.

Zabou, Upfest 2026, Stillhouse Lane, Bristol, May 2026
Zabou, Upfest 2026, Stillhouse Lane, Bristol, May 2026

Zabou is no stranger to Natural Adventures, although I just don’t get to see as much of her work as I’d like to. Her photorealistic work is famous, and in this piece a young boy, painted in greyscale, is holding up a colourful lamp with small, busy spheres dancing about it. The light of the lamp is touching the boys face and clothes in a beautiful way. A fabulous study in light and shade and colour. Bravo!