7850. Stillhouse Lane – Upfest 2026 (48)

Sprite, Stillhouse Lane, Upfest 2026, Bristol, May 2026
Sprite, Stillhouse Lane, Upfest 2026, Bristol, May 2026

I watched a little while as Sprite was painting this piece, but wasn’t able to chat with her as she was deep in conversation with other people and then very focussed on her work and I didn’t want to disturb her. I regret that now because I like to get to know visiting Upfest artists, albeit superficially, to help bring my posts alive with some small insights.

Sprite, Stillhouse Lane, Upfest 2026, Bristol, May 2026
Sprite, Stillhouse Lane, Upfest 2026, Bristol, May 2026

The rat in this piece is brilliantly proportioned and presented. Rather cutely it is holding a dandelion in its little pink hands and behind a seed head is releasing seeds. A simple composition but with so much joy and optimism, represented by the large rising sun framing the rat’s head. Sprite has been to Upfest before, and her animal pieces are always memorable.

Sprite, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022
Sprite, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022
Sprite, Stanley Street, Bristol, July 2021, Upfest 21
Sprite, Stanley Street, Bristol, July 2021, Upfest 21

7418. Belle Vue Road

Cock Dicks, Belle Vue Road, Bristol, January 2026
Cock Dicks, Belle Vue Road, Bristol, January 2026

I don’t visit this little corner of Bristol all that often, so it was great to ‘find’ this lovely mural, which has been a spot for less formal street art in the past, by Cock Dicks. It looks like Cock Dicks didn’t have a ladder, but in a way the ‘grass height’ of the piece works rather well beneath the large expanse of green on the wall.

Cock Dicks, Belle Vue Road, Bristol, January 2026
Cock Dicks, Belle Vue Road, Bristol, January 2026

The cartoon-style magnified landscape is beautifully laid out, and the flowers and insects all have rather sleepy faces. I particularly like the dandelions, which have been beautifully observed, and the one on the right being bald but for three remaining seed heads. This is a lovely piece that, without doubt, brightens up these residential streets.

Cock Dicks, Belle Vue Road, Bristol, January 2026
Cock Dicks, Belle Vue Road, Bristol, January 2026

5181. Cottrell Road (3)

Zase, Cottrell Road, Bristol, April 2023
Zase, Cottrell Road, Bristol, April 2023

This extraordinary piece by Zase is one of the most beautiful pieces in the city right now, if not the most beautiful. It is the third consecutive piece by the artist on this wall that I can remember, and like its predecessors has already become something of a landmark adjacent to the Eastville roundabout.

Zase, Cottrell Road, Bristol, April 2023
Zase, Cottrell Road, Bristol, April 2023

Continuing on today’s insect theme from Sled One’s Burberry bumblebee piece in the previous post, this piece is all about the honey bees. To the left, dandelions in flower and seed dominate the woodland (hinted) scene, while two bees navigate their way through the floating ‘parachute’ seeds.

Zase, Cottrell Road, Bristol, April 2023
Zase, Cottrell Road, Bristol, April 2023

The dandelion is, on its own, a work of art and I find myself utterly confounded as to how Zase painted this with spray paint.The finest detail has been incorporated, and his observational skills are outstanding, with the little marks left on the seed head by departed seeds.

Zase, Cottrell Road, Bristol, April 2023
Zase, Cottrell Road, Bristol, April 2023

The yellow and orange honeycomb letters spell out ZASE in some of the best anamorphic graffiti writing you’ll be lucky enough to see, and a bee has settled on the comb to the right.

Zase, Cottrell Road, Bristol, April 2023
Zase, Cottrell Road, Bristol, April 2023

The whole thing is a masterpiece and a fabulous advert for the artist who paints commissions. If I could afford it…

Zase and Dekor, Cottrell Road, Bristol, September 2017
Zase and Dekor, Cottrell Road, Bristol, September 2017
Zase and Dekor, Cottrell Street, Bristol, August 2015
Zase and Dekor, Cottrell Street, Bristol, August 2015