7822. Gathorne Road – Upfest 2026 (44)

Inkie, Upfest 2026, Gathorne Road, Bristol, May 2026
Inkie, Upfest 2026, Gathorne Road, Bristol, May 2026

One of the ‘sure things’ about Upfest is that Inkie will give the Parsons Bakery a refresh, and offer another bakery related pun, this has become a tradition now and something to look forward to on the Upfest calendar.

Inkie, Upfest 2026, Gathorne Road, Bristol, May 2026
Inkie, Upfest 2026, Gathorne Road, Bristol, May 2026

This year Inkie has gone to town with his ‘Bready or not, here I crumb’, which is a groan of a pun, but actually rather good. The writing is outstanding in his bold style, and it is possible many seeing it won’t actually get as far as reading it, being seduced by the grand nature of the lettering.

Inkie, Upfest 2026, Gathorne Road, Bristol, May 2026
Inkie, Upfest 2026, Gathorne Road, Bristol, May 2026

Inkie completes the piece with one of his trademark stylised portraits. No need for a signature here. Inkie is synonymous with Bristol street art, and after Banksy, is probably the best known graffiti export from the city, alongside Nick Walker, perhaps. Brilliant to see this refresh and enjoy the humour of the piece.

Inkie, Upfest 2024, Gathorne Road, Bristol, May 2024
Inkie, Upfest 2024, Gathorne Road, Bristol, May 2024
Inkie, Gathorne Road, Bristol, July 2019
Inkie, Gathorne Road, Bristol, July 2019
Inkie, Gathorne Road, Bristol, June 2016
Inkie, Gathorne Road, Bristol, June 2016

7821. Dalby Avenue – Upfest 2026 (43)

Peggy, Upfest 2026, Dalby Avenue, Bristol, May 2026
Peggy, Upfest 2026, Dalby Avenue, Bristol, May 2026

I only noticed after I lined this piece up to post that it isn’t actually finished. I’ll have to return and get a final picture, next time I am in that part of town. The Upfest piece is by Bristol tattooist and street artist Peggy, who has featured in Natural Adventures many times.

Peggy, Upfest 2026, Dalby Avenue, Bristol, May 2026
Peggy, Upfest 2026, Dalby Avenue, Bristol, May 2026

This piece is brighter than Peggy’s usual toned-down floral arrangements, but contains many of the same features and styling. You can see from this unfinished work what a difference the detailing can make. It is always great to see Peggy’s street work, which is quite different from much of the work we see day in day out.

7820. Stillhouse Lane – Upfest 2026 (42)

3Dom, Upfest 2026, Stillhouse Lane, Bristol, May 2026
3Dom, Upfest 2026, Stillhouse Lane, Bristol, May 2026

It has been great to see that the representation of Bristol artists at Upfest this year was really strong and that most had been afforded a proper wall rather than a temporary board, which has been the case in the past. It gives the opportunity for Bristol talent to be seen in the host city.

3Dom, Upfest 2026, Stillhouse Lane, Bristol, May 2026
3Dom, Upfest 2026, Stillhouse Lane, Bristol, May 2026

This is a wonderful piece by 3Dom with so much symbolism and so many messages curated within his surreal dreamlike style. I think broadly speaking, it is a piece that wants to portray hope and optimism, but have a closer look and it is filled with images of sadness and doom. The images of lover and peace are pierced with arrows. Sharks patrol the black murky waters. The weight of love is heavy. Faces alternate between sadness and happiness. So much to see here.

I managed to have a long chat with 3Dom just after he had finished the piece, and he is such a gentleman, thoughtful and kind, and of course immensely talented. Outstanding work.

Gage Graphics

A gallery of outstanding graffiti and high-end murals from Bristol-based Gage Graphics (AKA Ollie Gillard)

Instagram: @gage.graphics

Website: gagegraphics.co.uk

All photographs by Scooj

Gage Graphics. Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022
Gage Graphics. Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022
Gage Graphics. Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022
Gage Graphics. Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022
Gage Graphics, Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2022
Gage Graphics, Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2022
Gage Graphics, Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2022
Gage Graphics, Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2022
Gage Graphics, Alpine Road, Bristol, November 2021
Gage Graphics, Alpine Road, Bristol, November 2021
Gage Graphics, Alpine Road, Bristol, November 2021
Gage Graphics, Alpine Road, Bristol, November 2021
Gage Graphics, Alpine Road, Bristol, November 2021
Gage Graphics, Alpine Road, Bristol, November 2021
Gage Graphics, West Street, Bristol, June 2021
Gage Graphics, West Street, Bristol, June 2021
Gage Graphics, West Street, Bristol, June 2021
Gage Graphics, West Street, Bristol, June 2021
Gage Graphics, Upper York Street, Bristol, May 2021
Gage Graphics, Upper York Street, Bristol, May 2021
Gage Graphics, Upper York Street, Bristol, May 2021
Gage Graphics, Upper York Street, Bristol, May 2021
Gage Graphics, Upper York Street, Bristol, May 2021
Gage Graphics, Upper York Street, Bristol, May 2021
Gage Graphics, St Luke's Road, Bristol, December 2020
Gage Graphics, St Luke’s Road, Bristol, December 2020
Gage Graphics, St Luke's Road, Bristol, December 2020
Gage Graphics, St Luke’s Road, Bristol, December 2020
Gage Graphics, St Luke's Road, Bristol, December 2020
Gage Graphics, St Luke’s Road, Bristol, December 2020
Gage Graphics, St Luke's Road, Bristol, December 2020
Gage Graphics, St Luke’s Road, Bristol, December 2020
Gage Graphics, St Luke's Road, Bristol, December 2020
Gage Graphics, St Luke’s Road, Bristol, December 2020
Gage Graphics, St Luke's Road, Bristol, December 2020
Gage Graphics, St Luke’s Road, Bristol, December 2020
Gage Graphics, St Werburghs, Bristol, September 2020
Gage Graphics, St Werburghs, Bristol, September 2020
Gage Graphics, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2020
Gage Graphics, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2020
Gage Graphics, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2020
Gage Graphics, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2020
Gage, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Gage, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Gage, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Gage, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Gage Graphics, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Gage Graphics, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Gage Graphics, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Gage Graphics, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

7819. Greenway Bush Lane – Upfest 2026 (41)

Zmaja, Upfest 2026, Greenway Bush Lane, Bristol, May 2026
Zmaja, Upfest 2026, Greenway Bush Lane, Bristol, May 2026

Wow, how can work like this be created using spray cans? The richness and depth of colours and the brilliant use of shades to create a three-dimensional scene is incredible. The artist Zmaja is a Canadian-Serbian muralist and illustrator known for her cartoon-ish 3D animals, community-focused street art.

Zmaja, Upfest 2026, Greenway Bush Lane, Bristol, May 2026
Zmaja, Upfest 2026, Greenway Bush Lane, Bristol, May 2026

In this tea party scene, a fox and a rabbit are sharing a brew and a cookie and are accompanied by a couple of little yellow birds assisting with the sugar. A wonderful scene and story unfolds, but I can’t help feeling that there might be a sinister motive in the back of the fox’s mind, which once thought about, can’t be unthought. A superb Upfest piece.

7818. Cumberland Basin

Fade and Dibz, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2026
Fade and Dibz, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2026

When Fade and Dibz get together, magic happens. It is so easy to get blasé about their work, because we see it so frequently in Bristol and forget that these two writers are at the very top of their game. The precision of their work is extraordinary and at the very highest level.

Fade, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2026
Fade, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2026

This collaboration shows off their talents as wildstyle graffiti writers. To the left, in ‘fruit salad’ yellow and pink colours Fade has written his letters with three horizontal stripes, with complete confidence and competence. Great writing.

Dibz, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2026
Dibz, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2026

On the right, Dibz has also adopted slightly different ‘fruit salad’ colours nicely blended in horizontal strips and with a deep 3D drop shadow in black and nicely finished with some purple bubbles at the top. As a pair of pieces, it all feels so effortless, but that comes with the unconscious competence of years of graffiti experience.

7817. Temple Way (6)

Taboo, Temple Way, Bristol, April 2026
Taboo, Temple Way, Bristol, April 2026

This piece by Taboo has been around for ages, years. It took me a long time finally to photograph it, and then a long time to post it, but at last I have managed to do it. It is on a hoarding on a main road without parking, and I drive past it every time I go to Temple Meads Station.

Taboo, Temple Way, Bristol, April 2026
Taboo, Temple Way, Bristol, April 2026

Taboo’s antistyle letters, unusually not spelling out his name, are accompanied by a Disney like wolf with multiple exaggerated eyes. It is all a bit odd, verging on disturbing, but actually just very typical of Taboo. So glad I got round to it before it and the hoardings go.

7816. Frome Side (69)

Patch, Frome Side, Bristol, July 2026
Patch, Frome Side, Bristol, July 2026

I only have time for a couple of really quick posts this morning as Mrs Scooj, the dog and I are shortly going to be driving back to Bristol from a short break in Cornwall. We’ll be dropping in on my sister on the way.

Patch, Frome Side, Bristol, July 2026
Patch, Frome Side, Bristol, July 2026

This is a nicely presented simple piece of graffiti writing from Patch, whose work has recently been appearing in Bristol. I like both the style and simplicity. Patch has added a little bit of additional interest with alternation the black and red colours through the piece. I’m looking out for more from Patch who is making an impression in the City.

7815. St Werburghs tunnel (590)

Posh, St Werburghs, Bristol, June 2026
Posh, St Werburghs, Bristol, June 2026

I haven’t seen too many pieces by Posh in 2026, but this one in the tunnel, painted as part of a birthday paint jam for Donz, is an absolute belter. Posh at his best in my opinion.

Posh, St Werburghs, Bristol, June 2026
Posh, St Werburghs, Bristol, June 2026

Im not sure what the delicate yellow patterned letters spell, but they are quite beguiling. The interstitial space is filled with a lovely blue and he has painted a thin 3D drop shadow to provide depth. The doodle clouds finish the piece expertly. All the elements of this piece are well balanced in design, colour and tone. A sensational piece of graffiti writing.

7814. L Dub (91)

Mind 49, L Dub, Bristol, June 2026
Mind 49, L Dub, Bristol, June 2026

Another interesting piece from Mind 49 in his series of hooded portraits in which get only a small window into the subject’s face and are left to imagine the missing features. The ‘hood’ is decorated with naive artwork and contrasts with the fine detail of the eyes.

Mind 49, L Dub, Bristol, June 2026
Mind 49, L Dub, Bristol, June 2026

Mind 49 is teasing the viewer, but I suspect that there is more going on in his own psyche. For some years now he has been painting portraits from which features are missing. Nothing is distorted or ugly, simply hidden from view. A complete portrait from Mind 49 is a rare thing indeed. This is my favourite of his pieces in this deception series.