Tag: Bristol

Eager beaver

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Beaver releases

licensed reintroductions

hearty welcome back

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by Scooj

  • after centuries of absence, Eurasian Beavers are being legally released into the wild in England. The licensing of wild releases is necessarily strict to account for landowners, flood risk, farmers, ecological impacts and of course suitable habitat for these industrious creatures.
  • Last week, licensed releases occurred in Cornwall and Somerset, offering a feel good factor in a world dominated by gloomy headlines. Nature recovery at work.
  • There are beavers in England in enclosures already, but they cannot move beyond the enclosures.
  • The illegal act of releasing beavers, so called ‘beaver bombing’, has been happening for a few years, but while it might accelerate colonisation, it is considered irresponsible, often failing to account for all aspects of the communities into which they are released and potentially having unforeseen consequences, and avoidance of responsibility/curation.

7479. Cumberland Basin

Werm, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, February 2026
Werm, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, February 2026

I was so pleased to find this piece by Werm, who like many other artists has struggled to paint this winter, I assume, because of the rain. Werm painted this spot some years ago with a skull piece, and I think that this is a throwback piece to the original painted in February 2023.

Werm, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, February 2026
Werm, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, February 2026

I guess you could call this a combination piece, although the skull and letters are discrete. On the left, the skull (from the cat family I guess) is beautifully observed, with some great shading to bring out the form and depth. The proportions work really well – skulls can be very difficult to paint. The writing on the right spells out WERM stacked, two letters on top of the other two. Overall, this is a fine work from Werm and almost like a study to practice his craft.

Werm, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, February 2023
Werm, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, February 2023

Mozart balls

Mozart balls chocolates
Mozart balls chocolates

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Those in the know, know

chocolate coated marzipan

genius at work

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by Scooj

7477. Dean Lane skate park (903)

Trafficity, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2026
Trafficity, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2026

There was a time when finding a Trafficity piece was something of a rarity, but it feels like he has ever so slightly turned up the dial over the last couple of years and is in a good rhythm. Trafficity’s work is quite remarkable in that he sticks to his intricate design piece after piece, with only colour changes and minor decorations. His consistency is his trademark.

Trafficity, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2026
Trafficity, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2026

Like Cort (see previous post), Trafficity belongs to the PAD crew, which is mainly composed of Polish artists. Bristol is full of these little communities of artists, sometimes defined by nationality, sometimes by gender, sometimes by friendship or sometimes a combination of all of these. The letters spell ZIOS, which is reasonably easy to see once you know. It is always good to find pieces by Trafficity.

7476. Dean Lane skate park (902)

Cort, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2026
Cort, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2026

Cort tends to bring some lovely colours into his work, often choosing ones that both contrast with and complement each other well. This approach brings into focus just how important colour selection can be, and that it is not a random process for most artists, but a carefully considered process.

Cort, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2026
Cort, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2026

The sunlight on this piece isn’t very helpful, but I think you get the picture. The KORT letters are so typically written in his unusual style, and pairs of letters are filled in common. It looks like he was running low on some colours, or the piece has been badly rain affected, because it is possible to see the paint lines in some of the fills. Another nice piece from Cort.

7475. Surbiton Station, London

Aspire, Surbiton Station, London, February 2026
Aspire, Surbiton Station, London, February 2026

Another highlight of the ‘discovery’ I made at Surbiton Station, was this absolute beauty from Aspire, formerly of Bristol, and an artist whose work I have admired for many years. The piece was painted in a narrow alleyway, and difficult to photograph head on, even with a wide angle lens.

Aspire, Surbiton Station, London, February 2026
Aspire, Surbiton Station, London, February 2026

The outstanding piece features a pixelated rose, a thrush, a stunning conker and a bird of prey – maybe a hen harrier. There is a tenderness and love for nature that comes across so strongly in all of Aspire’s work, and he loves to be true to the birds he paints. I have to say, I absolutely love the conker – not something you see all that often in street art. A great find, albeit painted some time ago.

Aspire, Surbiton Station, London, February 2026
Aspire, Surbiton Station, London, February 2026

7474. Canons Wharf

Esme Lower, Monarch's Way, Bristol, October 2025
Esme Lower, Monarch’s Way, Bristol, October 2025

Esme Lower (Melo) absolutely smashed it with this massive commission on the harbourside from September/October last year. The opportunity was facilitated by Upfest and supported by Bristol Bid and Redcliffe and Temple Bid.

Esme Lower, Monarch's Way, Bristol, October 2025
Esme Lower, Monarch’s Way, Bristol, October 2025

The brief was to bring together elements of the Women’s Rugby World Cup, inspiring women of Bristol and local references to the harbour and businesses. So not too much of a challenge there then. Her upbeat cartoon scenes and characters lent themselves very well to the brief, and the outcome is hugely impressive, as the pictures below show. Well done Melo!

Esme Lower, Monarch's Way, Bristol, October 2025
Esme Lower, Monarch’s Way, Bristol, October 2025

Esme Lower, Monarch's Way, Bristol, October 2025
Esme Lower, Monarch’s Way, Bristol, October 2025

Esme Lower, Monarch's Way, Bristol, October 2025
Esme Lower, Monarch’s Way, Bristol, October 2025

Esme Lower, Monarch's Way, Bristol, October 2025
Esme Lower, Monarch’s Way, Bristol, October 2025

Esme Lower, Monarch's Way, Bristol, October 2025
Esme Lower, Monarch’s Way, Bristol, October 2025

Esme Lower, Monarch's Way, Bristol, October 2025
Esme Lower, Monarch’s Way, Bristol, October 2025

7473. St Werburghs tunnel (569)

Kool Hand, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2025
Kool Hand, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2025

This was a piece from a little while ago by Kool Hand, celebrating his own birthday with some friends in the tunnel. For some reason, my iPhone was playing up that day, and my photographs a little blurry – some kind of auto-setting might have kicked in because of the low light levels.

Kool Hand, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2025
Kool Hand, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2025

The combination piece has the letters KOOL accompanied by a trademark orangutan head, and the whole thing is very nicely presented. Kool Hand is an artist whose work just keeps on developing gradually but consistently. A very nice birthday present to self.

Crazy mind

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Dreamed of crows nesting

using timber planks to line

pilfered from a fire

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by Scooj

I try to avoid haiku about dreams but this was just so vivid.

7471. St Werburghs tunnel (568)

Fasho, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2026
Fasho, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2026

For quite a while now, I have been photographing Fasho’s writing, but held back on posting any pieces due to the fact that I know nothing at all about the artist. It seems that until I meet them, I’ll not find out any more, so I thought I’d go ahead with this nice green piece in the tunnel.

Fasho, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2026
Fasho, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2026

Fasho has a rather unique style of writing that includes exaggerated rounded ends to all the letters, giving the writing a soft appearance. This combination piece (which I am assuming is all by Fasho, although the character might be another artist’s work) contains the letters FASHO and a gun-wielding soldier on the left. There is good definition between the green fills and patterns and the white and black borders, keeping the piece tidy. A peace icon in the position of the ‘O’ indicate where this piece is coming from. Much more from Fasho to come from my archives.