Design – Natural adventures

7560. Cumberland Basin

Peggy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2026

I have been aware of this lovely column piece by Peggy for some time, but simply haven’t been able to stop in the right place to be able to photograph it. I managed to do so on an extended walk a week or two back when I had a day off from work.

This superb floral design stands out brilliantly on the turquoise column, and is most striking. Peggy, who is a tattooist by profession, creates these pieces that are really quite unlike any other artwork we see in Bristol. Each one is quite different from the last, but stylistically consistent. It is good to see her work, especially as she doesn’t paint all that often.

7542. Easton Road

Mr Penfold, Easton Road, Bristol, March 2026

I have said it many times on these pages, that it is always worth varying routes and going away from the beaten track because once in a while you will find something new in an unexpected place. I only occasionally drive down this road, but was pleased I did due to finding this mural by Mr Penfold.

Mr Penfold’s work is so distinct, his abstract designs incorporating bold colours and great shapes, where the spaces in between the elements are as important as the elements themselves. Bright and precise, this is a beacon of joy on an otherwise mundane stretch of road.

7458. Greenbank (181)

J9449j, Greenbank, Bristol, January 2026

I have decided to stick to the name J9449j for this artist. It was the first Instagram handle that I came across when posting his artwork, but which has changed several times since. It just makes sense to use the one name, even if it is the wrong one, for consistency’s sake.

There is so much mystery surrounding J9449j, and I wonder if in this piece there are some heavily disguised letters, because those shapes and the length of the piece would suggest so. The colours and shapes are absolutely wonderful, with the customary nod to nature. I also feel there is a bit of an Orla Kiely look going on, which, I might add, is a good thing.

7386. Cumberland Basin

Peggy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2025

There was a conspicuous absence of Christmas celebration street art in Bristol this year, or at least in any of the spots I visited over the holiday period. This might reflect Christmas fatigue, or perhaps a feeling that after a difficult year the mood was slightly downbeat. There was one small Christmas highlight, however, on the long wall at Cumberland Basin.

Peggy teamed up with some RBF friends, and painted this lovely floral piece in Christmas colours. I can only think that Peggy has been very busy with her work this year, because her street pieces have been few and far between, so finding this one was a bit of a treat. I’m not too sure what the AIZA letters refer to… I might need to investigate.

7154. Peel Street Green (43)

Cort, Peel Street Green, Bristol, August 2025

I have mentioned a couple of times recently that Cort has been having a surge this summer, not only in the quantity of his graffiti writing pieces, but also in the quality of them. This is another example of his unusual writing style on one of the large wall spaces at Peel Street Green.

Cort has been playing with all sorts of variants of his letters this year, and this one spells out KORTOS. The irregular shaped letters are verging on the ‘anti-style’ form, but have enough regularity and recognition to remail as conventional graffiti writing. The fills are nicely designed to run through the letters in a coherent pattern. I love the two characteristic black spots on the ‘T’. The wall is sensibly buffed, helping the letters to really stand out on the irregular white background. This is a beautifully designed and presented piece of graffiti writing.

6969. Peel Street Green (43)

Bloem, Peel Street Green, Bristol, May 2025

There is an unwritten rule in street/graffiti art that suggests that you shouldn’t paint over a piece that is better than the one you are covering it with. Of course, this is unenforced (it is a jungle out there) and also is subjective. The logical conclusion is that you end up with every wall having high-end pieces that remain forever. This is where taggers and bombers come in – they have little regard for conventions and bring every wall back to square one. The ecosystem seems to work.

I mention this in passing, because I was surprised to see this Bloem piece appear on this particular wall only a matter of days after it had been painted by 3Dom. In the grand scheme of things, there are few better artists than 3Dom in Bristol, and seeing this Bloem piece certainly raised my eyebrow. Fortunately, I don’t think 3Dom is at all precious, and Bloem is rising up the ranks of Bristol artists with each new piece she paints.

To have replaced 3Dom’s piece with this superb flower character/design certainly softens the blow. Bloem has a keen eye for design and matches it up with superb technical ability. I have to remind myself that she really only started painting walls a couple of years ago and has progressed at an alarming rate. This is a real beauty, and she has perfected chrysanthemum petals to a tee.

6958. Wharf Street, Leeds

Mr Penfold, Wharf Street, Leeds, May 2025

There is something very comforting about wandering around a place that I don’t know very well, and stumbling across the familiar artist, in this case, not just familiar, but Bristol’s fabulous Mr Penfold.

Mr Penfold has had a great deal of success with his commissions, and being invited to decorate this large building in the heart of Leeds must have been a real feather in his cap. It is interesting that alongside his colourful designs there is a lot of ‘white space’ which acts as a perfect counterbalance to his shapes and patterns. The building could risk looking too busy if all of it was ‘pimped’ a la Monsieur Penfold.

I felt very much at home in my ancestral city, in the company of artwork from a Bristol artist, and the sun was shining. What’s not to like about such an occasion?

6793. St Werburghs tunnel (481)

Benjimagnetic, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2025

I am well used to seeing outstanding pieces by Benjimagnetic, but I think that this recent one in the tunnel is the cream of the crop so far. The graffiti writing is so striking in form and colour, and it is difficult to walk past without stopping and admiring it.

When I look at the design elements, I am reminded of a kind of 1960s retro feel about it, bringing things like magazine racks and shelving units that were oh so modern when I was growing up. There were a few TV cartoons at that time that really picked up on this modern style. Perhaps I am imagining things, but that is what I see in this amazing work. I’m not entirely certain what the letters spell, but I have a good feeling that it spells GRO. Tight, colourful, beautifully designed and superbly presented. What more could a man want?

6640. Dean Lane skate park (796)

Peggy, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2024

Tucked away behind the railings and hedge that borders the swimming pool is this charming small floral piece by Peggy. At first I thought it might have been an old piece, because I know she has painted here before, but I am pretty certain that it is new, which is great news, because she hasn’t painted much this year, and I do like her work.

This piece is so typical of her floral work, and it is great to see how she transitions her tattoo designs onto walls. There is symbolism in the piece, the flower has an eye. I am not too sure what it all means, but it is distinctive and curious. I hope Peggy hits the street more often in 2025.

6341. Greenbank (133)

Le Imposter Design, Greenbank, Bristol, August 2024

This is exactly the type of discovery I love to make, and highlights why I do what I do. The Bristol to Bath cycle path is a very busy thoroughfare for cyclists and walkers alike. The vast majority of footfall (or wheel-fall) passing the long hoarding alongside the Chocolate Factory development, will miss this little gem, and some of the larger gems here too, being more focussed on getting from A to B. Observers of the world, however’, will stop and enjoy treats like this one from another first-timer on Natural Adventures, Le Imposter Design.

This modest design is dwarfed by the larger pieces of graffiti writing and street art surrounding it, and is easily overlooked, being at about knee to waist height. The art piece sets out a wonderful view out of a window and onto the street. There are lots of little details to enjoy, the plant and pot, coffee with a heart shape in the froth, some paperwork, and even a stall and awning on a building across the street. Wonderful calming stuff in a frenetic spot. A big welcome to Le Imposter Design, I hope to see more of her work before too long.

	Teresa on Thursday Doors – 2 April…
	Dan Antion on Thursday Doors – 2 April…
	wrookieschu on Thursday Doors – 2 April…
	paulh121 on Telling a tale
	M. on 7554. L Dub (81)

	Teresa on Thursday Doors – 2 April…
	Dan Antion on Thursday Doors – 2 April…
	wrookieschu on Thursday Doors – 2 April…
	paulh121 on Telling a tale
	M. on 7554. L Dub (81)

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: