7252. Lucky Lane (16)

Qubart, Lucky Lane, Bristol, September 2025
Qubart, Lucky Lane, Bristol, September 2025

Painted as part of the Bristol Mural Collective’s recent paint jam, this unusual piece is painted by Qubart, an artist I have not come across before. I have noticed that 2025 has been a year in which there have been more ‘debutants’ on Natural Adventures than ever before, which speaks of both the growth in numbers of people who want to paint the streets and that Bristol is a number one destination for street art and graffiti.

Qubart, Lucky Lane, Bristol, September 2025
Qubart, Lucky Lane, Bristol, September 2025

This modernist piece, that appears to be influenced by several art genres, is bold and eye-catching, quite literally. The primary colours work well with the design and the composition. It might be considered a bit weird, but in the context of everything else that I see in Bristol, it isn’t that weird at all. It is always a pleasure to be introduced to a new artist.

7234. Lucky Lane (16)

Cuicasolo, Lucky Lane, Bristol, September 2025
Cuicasolo, Lucky Lane, Bristol, September 2025

This is a wonderful geometric piece by Cuicasolo, AKA Elaine Carr, who I first came across in January 2016 and her BRISTOL piece in Dean Lane. Although she doesn’t paint all that often, she has a strong presence in Bristol through her creative interests and energy.

Cuicasolo, Lucky Lane, Bristol, September 2025
Cuicasolo, Lucky Lane, Bristol, September 2025

I love her 3D pieces that have so much depth to them, and this one looks like a kind of puzzle that could join up and interlock. There are some great strong colours used in this piece, although I think that the black surfaces on the doors should be red, to maintain consistency – perhaps she ran out of red paint? It would be great to see more from Cuicasolo, for sure.

Elaine Carr, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2016
Elaine Carr, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2016

7227. Lucky Lane (15)

Sam Brentnall, Lucky Lane, Bristol, September 2025
Sam Brentnall, Lucky Lane, Bristol, September 2025

Although he doesn’t paint all that often, Sam Brentnall pretty much always brings a smile to my face with his quirky illustrations of familiar animals and their amusing personalities. This beauty was painted in Lucky Lane as part of the most recent Bristol Mural Collective paint jam.

Sam Brentnall, Lucky Lane, Bristol, September 2025
Sam Brentnall, Lucky Lane, Bristol, September 2025

The piece, painted on a back yard wall with door and garage, takes the form of a reconstructed cow. Of course no real cow looks like this, but the caricature illustration immediately appears as a cow, even though it is mixed up and has green spots instead of black. I love the udders on the door on the left, and the cow’s head cropping a four leaf clover – tapping into the lucky theme of the paint jam. This is a truly charming piece from Sam Brentnall.

7222. Lucky Lane (14)

Yoliws, Lucky Lane, Bristol, September 2025
Yoliws, Lucky Lane, Bristol, September 2025

The Lucky Lane Bristol Mural Collective paint jam last month, is a gift that keeps on giving. Although I missed the pieces being painted because I was out of the country, I have been able to enjoy them completely and utterly. This is a wonderful shutter piece by Yoliws.

Yoliws, Lucky Lane, Bristol, September 2025
Yoliws, Lucky Lane, Bristol, September 2025

I love Yoliws’ characters that have a sense of freedom and joy about them, and the colours she selects have an upbeat feel. Unfortunately, I think that the shutter is working against Yoliws in this instance, and perhaps some stronger colours might have brought out a bit more contrast. There is a lovely message here for all who care to look at it… ‘Feelin’ lucky to have met you’. Fabulous stuff.

7213. Lucky Lane (12)

Amber Bardell, Lucky Lane, Bristol, September 2025
Amber Bardell, Lucky Lane, Bristol, September 2025

This is why I love the Bristol Mural Collective so much. This piece is unlike anything you are likely to see on the streets very often. It could belong on a sketchbook page and never be seen, but here it is in the middle of a quiet lane displayed as a piece of public art.

Amber Bardell, Lucky Lane, Bristol, September 2025
Amber Bardell, Lucky Lane, Bristol, September 2025

I haven’t seen any work by Amber Bardell before, and I’m not sure whether she has painted murals before, but this is a charming illustration mural of a bird pecking up four-leaf clovers, in keeping with the luck theme of the paint jam. There is a child-like quality and simplicity to the piece, which is nicely painted. A great contribution in Lucky Lane.

7205. Lucky Lane (10)

Amy McHugh, Lucky Lane, Bristol, September 2025
Amy McHugh, Lucky Lane, Bristol, September 2025

Amy McHugh first came onto my radar at the last Bristol Mural Collective paint jam on the Greenbank hoardings with a peace for Palestine mural. This time she has gone bigger with a nature theme and some comforting words for ‘Rob’.

Amy McHugh, Lucky Lane, Bristol, September 2025
Amy McHugh, Lucky Lane, Bristol, September 2025

The words are written in a lovely illustrative font, and I guess were painted with a brush. They say: ‘I’m sorry it’s so tough – it’s ok not to feel ok – one thing for sure is change – I’m sending love today – for Rob and all who struggle’. Kind words accompanied by kind birds and animals. The naive style is enchanting and would work well as illustrations in a picture book.

7200. Lucky Lane (9)

Paper Walls, Lucky Lane, Bristol, September 2025
Paper Walls, Lucky Lane, Bristol, September 2025

One of the great things about the paint jam in Lucky Lane, organised by the Bristol Mural Collective, is that it has introduced me to several talented artists whose work I have never seen before. Paper Walls (Hannah) is a sign designer/painter based in Bristol, whose work has a wonderful sense of nostalgia about it, and is of the highest quality.

Paper Walls, Lucky Lane, Bristol, September 2025
Paper Walls, Lucky Lane, Bristol, September 2025

This Japanese Maneki-neko lucky cat (or beckoning cat) was one of two painted in the lane, during the paint jam, aligning with the luck theme. It is beautifully painted on the challenging surface of a shutter. I love the INDEPENDENTS sign to the top right, but that is what she does, I guess. A wonderful piece and I hope the first of many to be painted with the Collective.

7196. Lucky Lane (8)

Ruby Guymer-Parker, Lucky Lane, Bristol, September 2025
Ruby Guymer-Parker, Lucky Lane, Bristol, September 2025

The Bristol Mural Collective paint jam in Lucky Lane, a couple of weeks ago, has introduced me to a number of artists I haven’t seen before. The wonderful thing about the Collective is that it brings studio artists out of their comfort zone and gets them painting on walls. These aren’t regular street artists, and they bring something completely different to the scene.

Ruby Guymer-Parker, Lucky Lane, Bristol, September 2025
Ruby Guymer-Parker, Lucky Lane, Bristol, September 2025

Many of the pieces painted at the paint jam were themed to be in tune with the name of the venue, Lucky Lane. This four-leaf clover by Ruby Guymer-Parker, is nicely designed and framed in a neutral blue circle, simple and impactful. Studio artists tend to use brushes for their work, rather than spray paint, which is a whole other ball game. An interesting piece.

7192. Lucky Lane (7)

Mind 49, Lucky Lane, Bristol, September 2025
Mind 49, Lucky Lane, Bristol, September 2025

What a stunning piece by Mind 49 painted at the Lucky Lane paint jam a couple of weekends ago. The theme for the mini-festival, organised by the Bristol Mural Collective, was luck, although I’m not sure how Mind 49’s piece plays into this, if at all.

Mind 49, Lucky Lane, Bristol, September 2025
Mind 49, Lucky Lane, Bristol, September 2025

The obscured portrait, a feature of Mind 49’s work, shows the eyes of a person peering through what appears to be a floral balaclava or headdress. It is an incredibly powerful piece, which is not only painted beautifully, but also conveys a raft of possible emotions – grief? contempt? sadness? resignation? stoicism? – there is certainly something downbeat about it, and yet it is surrounded with beautiful flowers. Lots to think about in this amazing portrait piece.

7190. Lucky Lane (6)

#DFTE, Lucky Lane, Bristol, September 2025
#DFTE, Lucky Lane, Bristol, September 2025

Our street philosopher, #DFTE, has been at it again, this time with a large mural piece painted during the recent Bristol Mural Collective paint jam in Lucky Lane. Nobody else does anything like this, so it is always easy to identify his work.

#DFTE, Lucky Lane, Bristol, September 2025
#DFTE, Lucky Lane, Bristol, September 2025

‘Dream big and believe in yourself’ are fine words, and just the confidence boost we could all do with from time to time. It reminds me of a wonderful piece of graffiti that used to be in the centre of Bristol that simply said ‘You look beautiful’. #DFTE’s big and bold letters have the most wonderful drips, something he has developed and perfected over time. I still haven’t yet met the artist, but it is just a matter of time I am sure.