Tag: Column

7651. M32 roundabout J2 (25)

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

Another stencil from the production line that John D’oh seems to have been preparing over the winter and which is fast filling up the column space in this area underneath the M32.

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

This one is poking a bit of fun at the authorities who have by and large completely failed to suppress the Bristol street art scene. A sleeping policeman sitting on a fold-up chair has the words “Street art isn’t illegal until they catch you”, which isn’t technically correct, but the point is made. A lighthearted piece from John D’oh.

7646. M32 roundabout J2 (24)

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

Where to start? There is so much to unpick in this political stencil piece by John D’oh. I’m not sure that I can offer too many of my own thoughts that the piece provokes, but I am sure that they are shared to varying degrees by many.

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

The action of Israel (the state of) depicted by death handing over a flower to a small innocent child holding a teddy bear is very powerful and rather moving. The faux reassurance hiding behind the violence is what comes across most strongly. I could write an essay about this, but I am resisting the temptation and am time-limited. John D’oh doing what he does best.

7635. M32 roundabout J2 (23)

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

John D’oh presents us with another fun stencil from underneath the M32 motorway. This one dates itself, being an Easter piece. Here we see as presentation of the Easter Bunny that we may never have seen before.

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

The artist has an eye for seeing things in a slightly different way and is often trying to find humour in the benign or ordinary. I’m not sure that I’ll ever look at Easter eggs in the same way after seeing this.

7625. M32 roundabout J2 (21)

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

Another piece from John D’oh’s awesome outdoor gallery underneath the M32, this time adopting cartoon characters to describe a fairly laid-back Bristol lifestyle.

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

What better characters to adopt than a combination of Shaggy and Scooby Doo alongside a Bristol crocodile, all smoking weed and looking contented. I guess that Bristol is no different from any other western world city, but somehow this weed-smoking culture appears to have become inextricably linked to the place. A knowing stencil poking fun at at the city’s culture.

7612. M32 roundabout J2 (20)

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

I expect that Popeye will be a familiar character for many, although post-millennial cohorts are unlikely to identify strongly or even at all with the iconic character. Certainly, John D’oh provides an indication of his likely age with this characterful stencil underneath the M32 motorway.

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

John D’oh skilfully blends the Popeye character with contemporary politics making a link between spinach greens and the Green Party, with the words ‘Eat green, vote green’. This is a particularly salient message with the upcoming local elections next month in which the Greens are expected to do rather well, picking up disaffected left of centre voters.

7606. M32 roundabout J2 (19)

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

Another piece (and there are so many more to come) from John D’oh’s under-motorway gallery. This is a humorous piece, which leans into smutty, which I guess is all part of the edginess of street art.

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

The fine stencil of a young woman is accompanied by the words “Things not to say on Valentine’s day: You might not be my happy ever after, but you could be my happy ending?”. On a picky point, the second half of the sentence doesn’t read as a question, and I think that the ‘you’ and the ‘could’ are the wrong way round. The piece has the potential to cause offence, although I think the emphasis is on humour. Not one of his best ideas, but nonetheless part of his varied portfolio.

7597. M32 roundabout J2 (18)

Creamylines, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, March 2026

Not too long ago, Creamylines got busy painting birds on columns under the M32. I don’t quite know if this was a practice session or a takeover bit. Whatever the motivation, he has occupied about a dozen or more columns with his long-necked bird portraits.

Creamylines, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, March 2026
Creamylines, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, March 2026

Of course, I could have photographed every column, and filled this post with birds, but instead have chosen one or two as I think you get the idea. I am really enjoying watching on as Creamylines expands his portfolio and his presence in Bristol.

Creamylines, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, March 2026
Creamylines, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, March 2026

7593. Brunel Way (355)

Maybe, Brunel Way, Bristol, April 2026

Back in his favourite spot, Maybe has started painting his unique dreamy pieces once again after a lengthy break. I haven’t quite worked out his technique in full yet, but he makes good use of stencils to pick out some clear distinctions between different elements of his pieces.

Maybe, Brunel Way, Bristol, April 2026

This one features one of his favoured motifs, that of a silhouette face with pursed lips. He has selected some lovely colours, and blended the colour transitions really well. It is so good to see him out and about painting again.

7591. Brunel Way (354)

Jee See, Brunel Way, Bristol, March 2026

Jee See’s work may not be to everyone’s taste, but I have a real soft spot for its authenticity and the way it represents so much of what grassroots street/graffiti art is all about in Bristol. This column piece plays host to one of his signature ‘seismic’ pieces.

Jee See, Brunel Way, Bristol, March 2026

The chunky letters form a deep-set block draped down the column. The chrome letters take on an interesting reflective look, picking up on various tints from the light beyond the flyover. Jee See doesn’t paint all that much these days, so I like to post his work when I find it.

7589. M32 roundabout J2 (17)

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

Another wonderful stencil piece from John D’oh’s outdoor gallery underneath the M32. There is no annotation, just an image of a woman speaking into a megaphone, from which flowers are cascading.

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

The piece tells a story which I guess is open to interpretation. I think it speaks of protest and peace, a little bit like Banksy’s famous ‘flower thrower’. The piece is beautifully presented, simple and thought-provoking. Good to see.