Tag: Hummingbird

6953. Cheltenham Road

Hazard, Cheltenham Road, Bristol, May 2025
Hazard, Cheltenham Road, Bristol, May 2025

The Prince of Wales is my local pub, although broadly speaking I don’t go to the pub very often these days. For as long as I can remember, there has always been a mural on the pub, which changes every few years. This most recent incarnation is by the wonderful Hazard.

Hazard, Cheltenham Road, Bristol, May 2025
Hazard, Cheltenham Road, Bristol, May 2025

Hazard, Harriet Wood, used to live in Bristol and has featured on the pages of Natural Adventures many times. She has been elevated to superstar status, which is totally deserved, and paints a lot of commissions around the country. This piece is a wonderful nature scene – utterly uplifting in the bustle of the Cheltenham Road.

Hazard, Cheltenham Road, Bristol, May 2025
Hazard, Cheltenham Road, Bristol, May 2025

Floral scenes are a speciality in Hazard’s repertoire, but the eye is immediately drawn to the outstanding hummingbird in the centre of the mural. This is a truly stunning piece, showcasing Hazard’s awesome talent. Oh, and by the way, there is a secret beer patio round the back.

5993. Hammersmith Road

Sophie Mess, Hammersmith Road, Bristol, April 2024
Sophie Mess, Hammersmith Road, Bristol, April 2024

Straying from the beaten track pretty much always yields surprises, whether they are  related to street art and graffiti or some other discovery. Curiosity about and observation of the world around us is what keeps us stimulated and alive, without which we become drones or zombies. This beautiful mural by Sophie Mess was my reward for doing things a little differently recently walking the dog in the St George area.

Sophie Mess, Hammersmith Road, Bristol, April 2024
Sophie Mess, Hammersmith Road, Bristol, April 2024

The tragedy of this piece is that it is not only difficult to photograph but also difficult to see, the best view being from the garden of the house opposite. I have done my best to capture what I can, but short of asking the house owner or neighbours if I could take pictures, I don’t think there is any other way of getting a good shot. A drone perhaps would be one way, but I don’t have one.

Sophie Mess, Hammersmith Road, Bristol, April 2024
Sophie Mess, Hammersmith Road, Bristol, April 2024

Sophie Mess, whose work has appeared a couple of times in Natural Adventures, creates the most wonderful floral murals painted in rich, seductive colours that draw you in. It is a pity that I couldn’t get a full picture of the hummingbird, because it looks sensational. Although this was most likely a commission piece I think that the piece not only works for the householders, but will have a positive benefit for the whole community. Art like this can inspire whole communities. Such a wonderful and unexpected surprise.

4480. Upfest 2022 (6)

These gates opposite the Hen and Chicken have played host to so many outstanding pieces for Upfest, and this time it is the turn of GretL, for at least the second time at the festival.

GretL, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022
GretL, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022

It seems that hummingbirds are a very popular theme with street artists, and there is definitely something about creating a moment in time in their frenetic and rapid wing beat. These stylised birds are truly beautiful and set against a sumptuous arrangement of leaves. A gorgeous piece.

Gretl, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Gretl, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

4460. Upfest 2022 (2)

It is easy to forget what a special time Upfest is in the Bristol calendar, especially for south Bristolians in the Bedminster area, where the festival is centred. The lucky residents of this area are blessed with some of the very best street artists and muralists visiting to decorate their walls and bring a sense of pride to the community.

Sian Storey, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022
Sian Storey, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022

This gorgeous hummingbird piece is by Sian Storey and a fitting follow-up to her beautiful piece from last year’s 70×70 wall. The highly colourful and dynamic mural features two hummingbirds in flight surrounded by flowers and petals with a gold patterned motif in the centre.

Sian Storey, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022
Sian Storey, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022

There is a great amount of detail in this busy piece, creating a sense of movement and frenetic activity. This is a very special wall that has hosted several significant artists in previous festivals, and Sian Storey has done it proud. The piece is slightly off the beaten track, on Westbourne Grove (which happens to be a Google Maps black hole).

3815. Upfest 2021 75×75 (18)

This mural by Carla James is utterly, utterly stunning and a serious contender for my favourite piece of Upfest 21 so far. It saddens me to report that this was one of the dozen or so pieces that was vandalised recently, which is a dreadful shame, and makes my blood boil. However, I was lucky to see it in its original condition. Carla James lives just outside Bristol, so she might be able to salvage it, depending on her work I guess.

Carla James, Exeter Road, Bristol, June 2021, Upfest 21
Carla James, Exeter Road, Bristol, June 2021, Upfest 21

This wall is so difficult to photograph, like so many in Bedminster – I recommend that more double yellow lines are introduced, which is what we should be doing in the name of reducing car use and mitigating for climate change. The artwork and general feel of this piece is extraordinary, and I simply cannot praise it enough. Carla James has mastered the technique of painting helium balloons (a Fanakapan speciality) but it is the exquisite beauty and colours of the hummingbird that really stand out.

Carla James, Exeter Road, Bristol, June 2021, Upfest 21
Carla James, Exeter Road, Bristol, June 2021, Upfest 21

I think that if I could take a piece of art home with me from Upfest 75×75, it would be this one (so far). I am blown away.

3800. Upfest 2021 75×75 (14)

What a terrific way to mark my 3,800th street art post with this magnificent mural tucked away just off North Street in a miniature park called Ebenezer gate pocket park, by Hampshire artist Sian Storey.

Sian Storey, Ebeneezer Pocket Park, Bristol, June 2021, Upfest 21
Sian Storey, Ebeneezer Pocket Park, Bristol, June 2021, Upfest 21

The park is so small that it is quite quite difficult to get a full shot of the wall, so it is best visited in the flesh where you can soak up all the beauty and detail from the comfort of a bench. The watercolour effect of the piece brings a light and delicate touch to the wall, and the composition of two hummingbirds surrounded by flowers over a central patterned circle is delightful.

Sian Storey, Ebeneezer Pocket Park, Bristol, June 2021, Upfest 21
Sian Storey, Ebeneezer Pocket Park, Bristol, June 2021, Upfest 21

This is a skilfully painted piece that typifies the high standard of murals at this year’s Upfest event, and although things haven’t quite turned out as expected this year, the 75 walls in 75 days initiative has really captured the imagination and will leave a legacy of stunning artwork for both Bristol citizens and visitors alike.

2242. Upfest 2018 (144)

Some artists got lucky (deservedly so) at Upfest 2018, receiving more than one wall to paint, and L7M was one of them. This is the second wall that I have written about, and both of them are absolute beauties.

L7M, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
L7M, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

In both of his Upfest works he featured delicate hummingbirds so full of movement. It is interesting to see how this piece looked during the painting process and how it developed into the finished article. A truly magnificent piece on one of my favourite Upfest locations.

L7M, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
L7M, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

1986. Upfest 2018 (122)

One of the first pieces that I recall from Upfest 2018 is this magnificent hummingbird by L7M, a very well-known artist originally from São Paolo who first picked up a can at the tender age of 13. Obviously practice makes perfect.

L7M, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
L7M, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

The vibrancy and movement in ther piece is remarkable, and the hummingbird itself is absolutely stunning. L7M was one of the featured artists last year and we certainly got our money’s worth as he did another excellent piece a little further down North Street (to follow).

1645. Upfest 2018 (7)

I don’t know very much about GretL, other than that she is a French artist and designer who likes to work with bold colours and ideas of camouflage. I saw this shutter piece on the first day of Upfest and could see that it was a new Upfest work, thanks to the label. Often it is difficult to date shutter pieces, because I rarely see them, due to the times I visit places where they might be.

Gretl, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Gretl, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

This is a simple and rather charming piece entitled ‘humming flower’ and here the artist has conflated the humming bird and the flower, both in the title and in the work. I think she may have done another piece during the festival and will have to look out for it. some nice work.

Hummingbird hawkmoth

.

Nectar specialist

with a convergent design

ultra-fast wingbeat.

.

by Scooj

  • Seen on the hill overlooking Barcelona.