In a world filled with terrifying and depressing headlines, it is refreshing to be able to enjoy a moment of lighthearted humour, and this lovely column piece by John D’oh under the M32 is just what the doctor ordered.
John D’oh, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, March 2026
How often have we heard that ‘love is just around the corner’? Well, John D’oh takes the saying literally with this two-part stencil. A simple and clever piece that would bring a smile to even the most cold-hearted viewer. Just another piece in a superb ‘gallery’ of John D’oh’s work under the M32 adjacent to Eastville Park.
After what feels like a lengthy absence, John D’oh has been hitting a particular area of Bristol pretty hard recently and making it his own. There is a large area of supporting columns under the M32 north of J2 on the motorway and adjacent to Eastville Park to it’s east, and this is where he has established a veritable gallery of his stencil work.
John D’oh, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, March 2026
John D’oh’s work, often painted in single layer stencils (one colour), usually blends humour with political commentary, and even adds a sprinkling of pathos from time to time. He is never one to shrink away from the big discussion points of the day as you can see in this piece depicting the shredding of important files by the Trump administration. As an aside, I find it unfathomable that the MAGA cult still worship this man in spite of his obvious and overt disregard for everyone and everything, especially his blind followers. Watch this space for a rush of wonderful John D’oh stencils from this spot.
With his finger pretty much always on the pulse, it was only a matter of time before John D’oh would create a stencil commentary piece about the war in Gaza and here it is. In this column piece, John D’oh presents a touching and tender piece that also references Bristol and Banksy.
John D’oh, M32 Spot, Bristol, October 2023
The message is clear, and one I think anyone in their right mind would agree with – ‘teach peace’. A young child and teddy look on at the right approach to conflict – the correct example throwing flowers and the incorrect version throwing Molotov cocktails. Along with most of us, this piece is asking for conflict to stop.
A quick message today from the Grinch, via the skill of John D’oh, for all you dog lovers out there – ‘a dog is not just for Christmas and should not just be given away or discarded’.
John D’oh, M32 Spot, Bristol, December 2022
A beautiful stencil piece featuring the Dr, Seuss character.
John D’oh, Horfield skate park, Bristol, November 2022
Christmas has come a little early this year in the form of this great stencil piece by John D’oh at Horfield skate park. It is a strong reminder that as we head into an unusual Christmas period with the backdrop of our very own cost of living crisis, we need to be mindful that there are others facing constant troubles far worse than our own. This stencil reminds me of an answer I give to my children when they ask me what I want for Christmas and I give them the same reply every time (I am a dad after all); “all I want for Christmas is world peace”. The answer is deliberately both humorous and serious, a blend John D’oh achieves here.
John D’oh, Horfield skate park, Bristol, November 2022
This piece also reminds me of a Costah piece that I posted a few days ago from my trip last June to Porto, which represents a street artist acting as a chronicler of these troubled times, something that John D’oh excels at. Let us all wish for peace this Christmas.
This is a cheeky piece from John D’oh in the style of a saucy seaside postcard but drawing in some political commentary about our current economic crisis, and he carries if off really well, in my view.
John D’oh, M32 Spot, Bristol, November 2022
This piece was painted on a column that previously played host to a Boris Johnson stencil, also by John D’oh, and reminds us of the important role played by political commentators, whether writers or artists, in documenting current events and the impacts of political decisions on society as a whole. Something a little different from John D’oh to enjoy.
Here are a couple more small stencils from John D’oh over in the St George skate park, which is a spot that he likes to paint on a reasonably regular basis. The first piece leans very heavily on a famous Banksy ‘sandwich-board chimp’, with a different message – ‘Monkey pox… not laughing now are you’, picking up on the increasing number of cases of the virus in the UK. As always, topical and on the ball.
John D’oh, St George skate park, Bristol, August 2022
The second stencil is a visual/verbal pun in which John D’oh conflates a Rocky quote and image, with an image of a chicken from the film Chicken Run. The quote is – ‘One run can change your day, many runs can change your life’. All a bit of fun.
John D’oh, St George skate park, Bristol, August 2022
Liz Truss – our new (fourth horseman of the apocalypse) Prime Minister has gifted John D’oh with years worth of satirical material by appointing one of the least moderate, most right wing, inexperienced, ideological Cabinets ever. She will break this country, but at least her mates will have top jobs supporting her with her destruction.
I could go on for hours about just how bad things are, but I think I will keep my powder dry for when things start to unravel. Unfortunately, by then it might be too late for the poorest in our society.
John D’oh, St George skate park, Bristol, August 2022
John D’oh has had another recent session in St George skate park, and I was able to get up there just before going off on my holiday. This fine stencil is one of several painted on the side of a skate ramp.
John D’oh, St George skate park, Bristol, August 2022
The artwork is deliberately retro, which seems at odds with the gentleman looking down at a mobile phone, a clever juxtaposition. It is the message that I love, and similar to one I often repeat here on Natural Adventures, encouraging people to look up and see the world around them, absorb it and enjoy the experience. A lovely stencil piece from John D’oh.
I was tipped-off by John D’oh about this wonderful, small stencil in a little alleyway off St Michael’s Hill, and it is always nice to have that kind of trust and bond with an artist, and sit is something I really appreciate.
John D’oh, St Michael’s Hill, Bristol, July 2022
The subject matter of the stencil is our national treasure, Sir David Attenborough, although he is actually so much more than a national treasure. Sir David Attenborough is an inspiration and hero to an entire generation, and his work, highlighting the wonder of biodiversity is an example and warning to national and world leaders, who should listen to what he has to say. I love the way that Sir David Attenborough and Greta Thunberg have joined forces, creating a generational continuity campaigning on behalf of our beautiful planet.
The stencil is notable for being a contemporary image of the great man, showing him as the old man that he is, no sentimentality. Another great piece in which John D’oh has captured one of the most important champions for our planet, with an injection of humour in the words, mimicking a voice-over by the great man himself.
Back to Leonard Lane, and this special Queen’s platinum Jubilee celebration piece by John D’oh. This is another fantastically presented piece from John D’oh, who has been producing some really outstanding work lately, really stepping up a level.
John D’oh, Leonard Lane, Bristol, June 2022
This one is an irreverent glance at the Queen, with specific reference to her second son’s indiscretions and rather odd alibi, for his involvement in a sex scandal, that he had taken his daughter to a Pizza Express in Woking on the day in question. It is nice to have these little reminders of British history so perfectly illustrated through John D’oh’s stencils. I have noticed that he has stencilled this one in another of his favourite spots, and need to get over there to photograph it.
John D’oh, Leonard Lane, Bristol, June 2022
I thought I’d include a little extra piece from John D’oh, which I think is from some time ago, but is right next to the Jubilee pizza piece. Gotta love this one!
Natural adventures 