One of the downsides of working from home (and to be frank, there are mostly upsides), is that I don’t get to wander around the streets of the centre of town as much as I used to. I am leading up to an excuse about why I haven’t posted this piece before, and the simple answer is I haven’t found it before. I am only human and can’t be on top of everything.
Irony, Unity Street, Bristol, June 2025
The beautiful Siamese cat on the door is by Irony – one of the best artists in the UK, in my view. The piece was painted for/curated by Upfest, and it is a rare expansion of Upfest’s sphere of influence into North Bristol. The piece is looking a little tired, and I would have loved to have found it sooner – I am guessing it is several years old. So happy though to bag another Irony piece, they are the best.
Irony, Harmood Street, Camden Town, London, April 2025
The highlight of my recent trip to Camden Town, was finding several pieces by Irony, including this one, that I had never seen ‘in the flesh’ before. He really is one of my favourite artists, and all of his work is of the highest quality. What I particularly like is that he seems to be equally comfortable painting high-end festival walls or spots like this one – he isn’t precious at all, and is a very modest gentleman.
Irony, Harmood Street, Camden Town, London, April 2025
There is a hell of a lot going on in this wonderful detailed portrait piece, and symbolism that I don’t think I will get to the bottom of, although it is possible that he is ‘patching up’ the piece in a clever way. While writing this post, I have found out that this is a repair job on a piece that was originally painted in 2018, and so the plasters and the eye patch are probably literally covering up blemishes in the original.
Irony (from a photograph by the artist in 2018 and posted on Instagram), Harmood Street, Camden Town, London
The facelift is quite stunning, and as you can see from this photograph taken by the artist of the original piece, the portrait has taken on a quite different persona. It is an amazing recognition of his talent and respect from others, that his work is still there seven years on in the first place.
Irony, Harmood Street, Camden Town, London, April 2025
As ever, outstanding work. You can see more of his pieces in this short gallery.
Irony, Harmood Street, Camden Town, London, April 2025
On 8 April this year, I took a trip to London to watch the mighty Arsenal swat away Real Madrid in what was without doubt the best football match I have ever been to – and I have been to a fair few. The kick-off was a late one, so rather than catch a very late train home to Bristol I decided to stay over in London with my sister, and then visit my uncle and aunt the next morning. After my visit, I had a few hours to kill and decided to walk to Camden Town and snap up a few doors and some street art. This outstanding portrait piece from Irony was one of the first I saw on my ten-mile walk.
Irony, Harmood Street, Camden Town, London, April 2025
Irony, who is one of the most talented street artists ever in my view, is known for his portraits of young women, and this one has been plastered all over social media recently, so it was a genuine surprise and pleasure to come across it.
Irony, Harmood Street, Camden Town, London, April 2025
The artist has captured a mood so perfectly in this piece and the slight downward tilt of the subject’s head conveys some kind of body language that the viewer can pick up on. Obviously, the most striking part of the piece is the stunning blue hair, perfectly presented. This is a great piece from a great artist.
I have said it many times, but it is worth repeating, that one of the additional benefits of Upfest is that artists often leave a little bit extra, over and above their ‘official’ pieces. This shutter piece is a ‘quick one’ by Irony that he painted before leaving Bristol. How privileged we are.
Irony, North Street, Bristol, June 2022
This piece is so good, and leaves us guessing so much about the woman in the portrait. We are teased by Irony, and it is what we can’t see that is as important as what we can see. I have spoken repeatedly on Natural Adventures about the talent of Irony, and this piece reinforces his status as a world class street artist. A magnificent portrait piece.
We have been so spoiled this year with the Upfest 75 walls in 75 days event, and in particular with some extraordinary pieces by Irony. This is the second Irony piece from the event, and is an absolutely extraordinary portrait.
Irony, West Street, Bristol, October 2021, Upfest 21
Irony is known for his female portraits that it is difficult to keep your eyes off. The photorealistic detail and depth is beyond astonishing, and puts this artist right up into the world top league alongside other artists like Bubblegum in Barcelona.
Irony, West Street, Bristol, October 2021, Upfest 21
Looking deep into those eyes, it is impossible to know what the girl is thinking, and as with many of his portraits, her emotions are not easy to read, inert almost, and yet she is wonderfully animated. I think the blue hair is a touch of genius that works so well with this wall and this spot.
Irony, West Street, Bristol, October 2021, Upfest 21
I made several attempts at photographing this wall, but it is not easy as the immediate front yard has become a bit of a building site and there are two rather unhelpful black wheely bins that are totally in the way most of the time.
In my view, this is one of the best pieces to appear in Bristol in 2021.
Wouldn’t it be great if Irony painted more often in the west of England… oh, hang on a minute he seems to be turning up everywhere at the moment, something surely to be celebrated. Maybe we could tempt him to move to Bristol and treat us with his work more often, that would be good.
Irony, Alexandra Parade, Weston-super-Mare, September 2021
This magnificent cockerel piece above Sultan’s Kebab House is as brilliant as it is unexpected. What? Who? Why? The piece bursts out of the ordinariness of its surroundings on a bright yellow background and demands attention. What a fabulous addition to this seaside town, known for its street art culture generated mainly by JPS and augmented by Banksy’s ‘Dismaland’ exhibition from a few years ago.
Irony, Alexandra Parade, Weston-super-Mare, September 2021
The piece is part of an event orchestrated by Upfest for the town, more information taken from the Upfest website is as follows:
Europe’s biggest street art festival is coming to Weston this summer.
Upfest will join forces with Weston Town Council, local artists and organisations including Culture Weston to create a series of murals on buildings across the seaside town this month.
Up-and-coming local artists from Weston, as well as artists from further afield, will be taking part in the project.
They will paint 10 different murals over 10 days, mainly focused in and around the town centre.
The initiative has been funded with a £20,000 grant from the town council.
There will not be a set theme, with artists being asked to come up with their own designs.
The murals will form part of a permanent trail around the town, and it is hoped this will help to bring people into Weston. A shortlist of artists for the project is now being drawn up.
Of course, 10 walls in 10 days is going to be a bit of a challenge for me to record, living a little bit away and only visiting occasionally, but I will try my best.
Irony, Alexandra Parade, Weston-super-Mare, September 2021
I think that this piece, more than any other, perfectly demonstrates how a piece of urban art, free for all to enjoy, can lift the spirits of a place, create a sense of pride and identity and drive inward investment. A perfect win win situation.
What an absolute beauty from Irony. I want this post to be about the outstanding art and not the difficult light conditions, so I will get my apology in early. The sun was bright and behind the wall, so the artwork is a little on the dark side. This wall needs to be photographed on a dull day probably to get the full weight and beauty of the piece.
Irony, Greville Street, Bristol, June 2021, Upfest 21
Irony is known for his incredibly detailed high-end murals and has appeared at many festivals around the UK, but he also paints walls all over London and he is far from a ‘pop star’ celebrity, preferring to keep his anonymity as far as that is possible. He is a modest talent.
Irony, Greville Street, Bristol, June 2021, Upfest 21
These giant rooftop pigeons, painted on the rear wall of The Hen and Chicken, are close to perfect. Their fluffed up ruffles so accurately portrayed and their general demeanour is so life-like. Irony has gifted Bristol yet another classic piece. But one that you have to look out for as it could easily be missed.
Irony, Greville Street, Bristol, June 2021, Upfest 21
Upfest has definitely triumphed this year with its 75×75 event, and this is only the eighth one I have posted… so much more to come.
Continuing with a trip I took to Shoreditch, London back in November 2018 when I was lucky enough to come across this magnificent and rather dark halloween (I presume) fox by Irony at the Allen Gardens spot.
Irony, Shoreditch, London, November 2018
Irony’s work is nearly always breathtaking and I have yet to see a ‘dud’ from this artist. This chilling scene is of a fox (and possibly several other creatures of the night) clutching a severed arm in its mouth the hand of which is holding a hot dog. It is clever how the whole atmospheric piece has been achieved using only a few green, brown and black tones. Weird and wonderful.
The Nomadic Community Garden just off Brick Lane is an extraordinary place. A labyrinth of sheds and raised beds made from old railway sleepers. It is kind of untidy but un an organised way. At the far end of the garden is a large wall and it is covered in ‘high-end’ pieces from established artists.
Irony, Nomadic Community Garden, London, November 2018
I think I read somewhere that the garden was being cleared out. I’m not sure if this is the case, but it would be a pity. Cities need these eccentric spaces, without them we are all impoverished.
This fabulous piece is by Irony, whose work really is unparalleled. The mural was painted as part of the Meeting of Styles street art festival in May 2018. So, so cool.
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