7454. St Mark’s Avenue (12)

Sorts, St Mark's Avenue, Bristol, March 2026
Sorts, St Mark’s Avenue, Bristol, March 2026

It has been a long time since I last visited St Mark’s Avenue, and it has been a long time since I last discovered a piece of graffiti writing by Sorts. So two long awaited events occurred a week or two back when I made a spontaneous decision to step into Easton.

Sorts, St Mark's Avenue, Bristol, March 2026
Sorts, St Mark’s Avenue, Bristol, March 2026

There were a few pieces in St Mark’s Avenue that I hadn’t seen before, starting with this beauty from Sorts. By the look of it, this combination piece, with a cheeky character on the left, is reasonably recent, or at the very least it looks fresh, and there aren’t any rain and dust splatters along the bottom fringe, which you tend to see on older pieces. The letters are nicely presented and filled in quarters with contrasting colours and patterns. It would be great to see more from Sorts.

7528. M32 roundabout J2 (13)

Haka, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, March 2026
Haka, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, March 2026

In my wanderings in search of Bristol street art and graffiti, I tend to visit the ‘honey pots’ most often, and then radiate outwards to the spots where turnover is lower, or where wall space is limited to one or two pieces only. This means that I tend to miss quite a few pieces from these less visited places. I was pleased therefore to stumble across this Haka piece in a tunnel under the M32 recently.

Haka, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, March 2026
Haka, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, March 2026

I think that Haka painted this some time ago, but it still looks in fair condition. Haka’s combination pieces usually feature children’s picture book characters. The pirate in the piece, standing on a barrel is unknown to me, and a quick Google search didn’t help. A fun piece for the kids.

7526. M32 roundabout J2 (12)

John D'oh, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, March 2026
John D’oh, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, March 2026

This is an absolute beauty from John D’oh in amongst the treasure trove of column stencils under the M32. There is no overt political commentary as far as I can see, although meanings can be read into almost anything if you put your mind to it.

John D'oh, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, March 2026
John D’oh, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, March 2026

A cloaked woman is holding out a lamp, which is attracting some moths over her gently extended hand. This is actually a three-colour stencil, with a very subtle yellow white colour used in the lamp, and blended onto the woman’s arm and cloak. This is really nice work from John D’oh and rather touching. It demonstrates that sometimes overcomplicating things isn’t needed to create something beautiful and meaningful.

7523. St George skate park (24)

Lis, St George park, Bristol, March 2026
Lis, St George park, Bristol, March 2026

From time to time I find myself being very late to the party – I cannot be everywhere all the time, and there are some spots that I don’t visit all that often. Even though this piece by Lis is a bit old and grubby, I wanted to post it because I missed it first time round, and I love her work.

Lis, St George park, Bristol, March 2026
Lis, St George park, Bristol, March 2026

The blue whale, complete with a cane and monocle and sporting a top hat, was painted in November last year, and you can see how much wear these ramps get from the skaters and scooters. I have never really thought of a posh blue whale before, so this is an interesting and humorous take from Lis. Looking forward to more of her work now that the days are drying up a little.

The Art of Sok

A gallery of incredible character pieces painted in a cartoon style by South Wales-based The Art of Sok.

Instagram: @theartofsok

Big Cartel: https://theartofsok.bigcartel.com

All photographs by Scooj

The Art of Sok, St Werburghs, Bristol, November 2025
The Art of Sok, St Werburghs, Bristol, November 2025
The Art of Sok, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2025
The Art of Sok, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2025
The Art of Sok, M32 Spot, Bristol, June 2025
The Art of Sok, M32 Spot, Bristol, June 2025
The Art of Sok, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2024
The Art of Sok, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2024
The Art of Sok, Brunel Way, Bristol, July 2024
The Art of Sok, Brunel Way, Bristol, July 2024
The Art of Sok, Ashton Road, Bristol, July 2024
The Art of Sok, Ashton Road, Bristol, July 2024
The Art of Sok, M32 Spot, Bristol, July 2024
The Art of Sok, M32 Spot, Bristol, July 2024
The Art of Sok, Purdown, Bristol, July 2024
The Art of Sok, Purdown, Bristol, July 2024
The Art of Sok and Smak, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, July 2024
The Art of Sok and Smak, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, July 2024
The Art of Sok, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, July 2024
The Art of Sok, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, July 2024
Rusk and Theartofsok, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, October 2023
Rusk and Theartofsok, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, October 2023
Theartofsok, M32 Spot, Bristol, Ocober 2023
Theartofsok, M32 Spot, Bristol, Ocober 2023
Smak and The Art of Sok, Cheltenham Paint Festival 22, Cheltenham, July 2022
Smak and The Art of Sok, Cheltenham Paint Festival 22, Cheltenham, July 2022
The Art of Sok, Cheltenham Paint Festival 22, Cheltenham, July 2022
The Art of Sok, Cheltenham Paint Festival 22, Cheltenham, July 2022

 

7512. Dean Lane skate park (906)

Seed, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2026
Seed, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2026

I enjoy observing new artists who try to break out onto the scene, and after all, all graffiti/street artists have to start somewhere. As they progress, they will make mistakes, both in their art, and equally importantly regarding etiquette. Even I fall foul of this from time to time – there are codes and principles, even if there are ‘no rules’. On this occasion, Seed painted his large letters recently, over a beauty by Werm. Generally speaking you shouldn’t paint over something that you are not equal to or better than, and Seed isn’t yet at Werm’s level. The logical consequence is that you end up with only high-end pieces on all walls, and that is where taggers and bombers come in, freeing up walls to be painted again.

Seed, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2026
Seed, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2026

Seed is learning gradually, and improves from piece to piece, but his work is still rather crude. His letters here are large and square, and his 3D drop shadow missing on the bottom of them. He is experimenting with some plasma lines to break up the large swathes of pink. He has also included a little cartoon-style character, completing the combination piece. Keep practicing and perhaps stick to practice walls for the time being.

7505. Brunel Way (350)

Turoe and Dibz, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2026
Turoe and Dibz, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2026

This is a rather nice combination collaboration from Turoe and Dibz, and I think that Fade was there too, but possibly in a filming capacity. The depths of a wet and rather horrible winter seem to be dimming, and many artists are waking from their slumbers.

Turoe, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2026
Turoe, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2026

It turns out that this hoarding, which is actually the side of a large skate ramp, is becoming a bit of a honey-pot for high-end pieces. Although I can’t be absolutely sure, I think Turoe painted the TWC (The Wild Criminals) letters breaking out from the grey ‘wall’. Some great colours and textures in the fill, the hole and the wall.

Dibz, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2026
Dibz, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2026

I think that the Yosemite Sam character is the work of Dibz, which is unfortunately behind a bit of temporary railing, which I should have moved really for the photograph, but it is a real bit of street furniture that gets in the way from time to time, and adds authenticity to the record. The character is superbly painted, and so true to the cartoon character. Warner Bros and Looney Tunes would be proud.

7490. Purdown (99)

Slakarts, Purdown, Bristol, February 2026
Slakarts, Purdown, Bristol, February 2026

Slakarts doesn’t paint on the street much these days, but the last two pieces I have found by him have both been up on Purdown on the square concrete slabs of the old WWII gun emplacement. I guess it is a place he feels comfortable painting, a little less exposed than the streets.

Slakarts, Purdown, Bristol, February 2026
Slakarts, Purdown, Bristol, February 2026

This is a lovely abstract piece containing his usual character, which has been absorbed a little into its surroundings, and there is some ambiguity to his features. Slakarts has used some great colours in this fun and uplifting piece.

7486. Purdown (98)

Bogat, Purdown, Bristol, February 2026
Bogat, Purdown, Bristol, February 2026

It has been difficult to walk the dog so far this year, all the parks I usually go to are waterlogged mud-baths, and cleaning him afterwards is a bit of a palaver. Purdown is perhaps the best bet, because it is at the top of a hill and the water drains off it reasonably well, so I went up there a couple of weekends ago, and was met with several new pieces, which I was not really expecting.

Bogat, Purdown, Bristol, February 2026
Bogat, Purdown, Bristol, February 2026

This is a shouty piece by Bogat, who is known for his characters with woolly hats and large mouths. I don’t see his work all that often, but pretty much always post it when I do, because it has a simplicity and authenticity that I really like. Some bold colours and a good fit for the square concrete slab, and a few RIP shout-outs.

7483. Cumberland Basin

Lise Rupa, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, February 2026
Lise Rupa, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, February 2026

Finding work by artists that are new to me is one of the great pleasures of this hobby. I rarely tire of the great work of Bristol artists, and we are truly blessed in the city to have such a wide spectrum of talent and styles. Visiting and new artists are, however, a refreshing addition to the scene, and this piece by Lise Rupa is something special.

Lise Rupa, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, February 2026
Lise Rupa, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, February 2026

I have an affinity with squid, having worked on a Japanese squid fishing boat for a year, (but that is another story). This unusual piece has a sketch-like quality to it, or almost looke like a wood-cut piece, with its two-tone colours and black hatching. The squid is anatomically correct, which pleases me greatly. What a wonderful way to make your presence known.

Below is my second ever attempt to paint with spray cans, it happens to be a squid, which is why I include it here:

Scooj, squid, Redland, Bristol, May 2019
Scooj, squid, Redland, Bristol, May 2019