Joe Greenaway s not an artist I know much about at all, so I went to his Instagram account to see if I could find out more. I didn’t find much, but I did discover that this paint jam arranged by Mind 49 was organised to raise funds for @thegrandappeal Children’s Hospital Charity. Further searches on the Interweb revealed that Joe Greenaway is an up-and-coming artist from St Ives in Cornwall (a place with a rich artistic heritage).
Joe Greenaway, Knowle West, Bristol, July 2025
The stunning greyscale portrait piece features a woman with a date ‘1958’, and I wonder if it might be a relative of the artist. Alongside the stunning portrait is a superb reference to Bristol in the form of balloons drifting over the Clifton Suspension Bridge. This is a beautiful piece that deserves to be shouted about. Oh, and damn the car!
The first piece that you see as you approach this Knowle West spot is a wonderful combination work by Daz Cat, who has been flirting with mixing his famous cat characters with portrait pieces, and the result is something quite ‘dazzling’.
Daz Cat, Knowle West, Bristol, July 2025
The portrait of a woman with a blue face is sandwiched between two charming orange cats, it looks like a boy and girl cat. What is also great to see is the iconic Clifton suspension bridge making it into the piece, something that a uniquely Bristol kind of thing to do. Note to self: do a special gallery post on Clifton suspension bridge pieces. Just thinking about it… it is odd that it is always referred to as the Clifton suspension bridge, and rarely, if ever, as the Clifton bridge. Wonderful work from Daz Cat.
I was walking to a cricket match a couple of weeks back with some friends, when I spotted a flash of colour down a side street. I made my excuses, said I’d catch them up, and dashed across the road to get a closer look. My reward was this lovely Mural by Jamel (AKA Loch Ness), looking fresh as a daisy. Loch Ness was one of the first street artists I became aware of in Bristol, and he even gave me a spray-painting class as part of an Upfest festival sponsorship initiative, some years ago.
Jamel, Princes’ Place, Bristol, June 2025
I haven’t seen anything by the artist for years, so this was a great find. The piece features a lion, which serves as a backdrop to a set of Bristol icons; the Clifton Suspension Bridge, Concord and hot air balloons. This is a wild and imaginative mural, probably a commission or for a friend/family, and is a bit of a gem. I hope this signifies a revival of Jamel’s work.
I found and photographed this piece a little while ago, and perhaps should have waited and got some better pictures, once the site in front of it was cleared. The huge mural was an unsigned mystery, and so I have held back on posting it. Once again, I have Paul H to thank for his detective work in finding out that it is by Hazard. Well, well, well, who’d have thought it?
Hazard, Gloucester Road, Bristol, September 2024
Hazard has a particular style that is quite easy to pick out, but this commission on the side of the Anchor pub on Gloucester Road is nothing like her usual style, and I don’t think I would have ever guessed it was by her, especially as she left Bristol about two years ago.
Hazard, Gloucester Road, Bristol, September 2024
There is so much to like about this mural, which tells the Bristol story, with balloons and the Clifton Suspension Bridge, some colourful Georgian houses, a swan, a gull and of course an anchor. It really is a magnificent mural, but I simply don’t understand why she didn’t sign it… curious. Driving south along the Gloucester Road, this piece has quickly become something of a landmark.
Wit can be a difficult thing to achieve with street art, but #DFTE combines placement with sentiment perfectly in this small ‘extra’ piece painted recently in Cumberland Basin, overlooking the world famous Clifton Suspension Bridge.
#DFTE, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, August 2024
I have seen #DFTE use this phrase before, but I think that this simply has to be the perfect placement, and one which will be seen and I’m sure appreciated. I can’t think for the life of me what the sign originally said, but it can’t have been a fraction as interesting as this. Great fun from #DFTE.
Andrew Burns Colwill, Cheltenham Road, Bristol, July 2024
Andrew Burns Colwill is one of Bristol’s finest artists, whether painting on canvass or enormous walls like this one in Cheltenham Road. A man so full of character, who has lived life to the full, is kind and thoughtful, and in the limited opportunities I have had with him, is great company. His talent is immediately obvious, and he tops my list of artists in Bristol.
Andrew Burns Colwill, Cheltenham Road, Bristol, July 2024
Andrew Burns Colwill paints quite a lot of commissions like this one, but because they aren’t in the usual graffiti/street art spots, they can often go unnoticed and without fanfare. This piece is very much themed around Bristol and Isambard Kingdom Brunel in particular, with a portrait of the great engineer himself, the SS Great Britain, the Clifton suspension bridge and The Great Western Railway. The piece is called ‘The pen is mightier than the sword’ and in the current context of rioting around the country, how resonant these words would seem to be.
Andrew Burns Colwill, Cheltenham Road, Bristol, July 2024
The full piece is difficult to photograph, because it is painted on two sides of the building, and it is four stories high. ABC uses a clever device at the ground-floor level with the draughtsman’s hands included as part of the artwork, painting the archways, as if it were a work in progress.
Andrew Burns Colwill, Cheltenham Road, Bristol, July 2024
Above that are scenes of the 19th century docks and railway. The top two floors are more contemporary in style and speak of the present day.
Andrew Burns Colwill, Cheltenham Road, Bristol, July 2024
There is quite a lot of trompe l’oeil work on the upper levels, with four extra windows painted alongside the existing real ones. The arts are heavily represented with pens, brushes, pencils and written music adorning the walls. Two young people complete the scene alongside a dove of peace. This is a truly magnificent mural painted in Andrew Burns Colwill’s understated wash style. Awesome. Bravo!
Every time I find a piece with the Clifton suspension bridge in it, which is reasonably frequently, I am reminded that I want to do a bridge gallery, it is such an obvious theme. The slight problem is that it would take rather a long time to compile, and isn’t going to happen until I have some free consolidated time. The aspiration is there though.
SPZero76, Midland Street, Bristol, March 2024
This is a wonderful piece by SPZero76, who has been quite busy this spring, featuring a couple of young people sitting on the suspension bridge, the uprights of which have been crafted into enormous speakers. SPZero76, despite altering the bridge, has remained true to the design and details, so there is no mistaking which bridge it is. This is a piece that speaks loudly and proudly of the culture and heritage of Bristol.
At the bottom of Richmond Road you will find this outstanding mural by Sikoh, you will also find a row of permanently parked cars in front of it, making it impossible to get a clean photograph of the piece in all its splendour. These pictures are the best I can get or am ever likely to get.
Sikoh, Richmond Road, Bristol, March 2024
The piece, which I am guessing was a commission, or at least painted for friends or acquaintances of the artist, has a very strong Bristol theme running through it, starting with a hot air balloon, the Clifton Suspension Bridge and a Bristol fox, each icons of the city.
Sikoh, Richmond Road, Bristol, March 2024
The middle section is occupied with an enormous octopus, although I am not aware of any connections this has with Bristol and assume that it is a central character in telling the story in a compelling way. The SS Great Britain and the Matthew are wrapped in the giant sea beast’s tentacles.
Sikoh, Richmond Road, Bristol, March 2024
The last panel features Cabot’s Tower on Brandon Hill and Concord, wrapping up a fabulous canter through the history of a city known for its discovery, engineering and adventurous spirit. The only thing missing is a riot or two, but that would probably spoil the positive vibe. An outstanding historical mural by a brilliant artist.
This is the last of the pieces by Roo from a recent visit she and SkyHigh made to Bristol earlier in the month. The beautiful scene features a happy bumblebee over Bristol, with the Clifton Suspension bridge in the background. I managed to take the photograph, on a gorgeous day (what are these?) in a way that incorporated the real Clifton Suspension bridge behind the Environment Agency structure.
Roo’s style, as I have mentioned before is always cheerful, whatever the subject, and a welcome antidote to all the challenges and troubles of everyday life. No matter how crap you might be feeling, finding one of her pieces is guaranteed to cheer you up and offer a different perspective on things. We all need this reminder and what better way to deliver it than through the medium of street art. Thank you Roo.
This is the third piece I have posted from the 650 years of Bristol celebration pant jam, and it is by the magnificent artist Willl Cross. For most of the artists, there was a major challenge in switching their spray cans for brushes, not so for Willl Cross who uses brushes for all his street art pieces, and is more familiar with studio art work.
Willl Crosss, Queen’s Road, Bristol, August 2023
Willl Cross tends to use a crossover method which incorporates modern scenes painted in a romantic style, and often his subject is wearing traditional Bulgarian costume. This outstanding piece presents a stunning view which many Bristolians will be familiar with, showing the Avon Gorge and Clifton suspension bridge viewed from the Downs. The woman in the portrait, with her eyes closed, appears to be enjoying the moment and is gently holding a wildflower.
Willl Crosss, Queen’s Road, Bristol, August 2023
There is more mystery to the piece though, with some menacing winged beasts or demons floating around the woman’s head. I would like to believe that the demons are being expelled by the peace of the moment.
The patterns on the dress are wonderfully painted, and the dramatic skies overhead indicate turmoil. I would so much love to speak with Willl Cross to understand more about the painting.
We are privileged in Bristol to have free access to stunning artwork like this for citizens and visitors to enjoy. Next time you are passing, stop for a moment and drink in this awesome painting.
Natural adventures 