I can’t quite remember if this combination piece from Mr Klue was painted in one session or two, but since they are by the same artist, it doesn’t really matter that much. It is quite unusual to find writing and the Mad Hatter character by Mr Klue adjacent to one another, so this is quite special.
Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, August 2025
Mr Klue’s gift for creating ephemeral graffiti writing is unparalleled in Bristol and his character is iconic, especially in this area. There are some great colours here and a lightness of touch that is a signature of his work. A real treat in the tunnel.
We fly back to Bristol today, after a wonderful week away in Madeira. I will be in the air when today’s posts publish, so I wrote them both last night. You don’t need to know any of that, but it is late, I am tired and I don’t much want to go home.
Mr Klue, Purdown, Bristol, August 2025
I suppose, at least, that I will be able to go for walks with the dog again and seek out new street/graffiti art. Such as this classic piece up at Purdown, by Mr Klue. The ghostly character resembles the Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland, and has an ethereal fantasy appearance. A Bristol icon from Mr Klue.
I am writing this from a tired Travelodge in Warrington, having watched Arsenal lose to PSG in the second leg of the Champions League Semi Final in an equally tired and slightly empty Irish Pub. I have had a long day, and still have this blog post to write. At least I am writing about this fabulous Mad Hatter piece in the tunnel by Mr Klue.
Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, April 2025
I think Mr Klue painted this as a bit of an extra, after he has finished another piece that I watched him complete. He is on a roll this year and has been churning out some great pieces. I particularly like these little characters that he paints and I have seen several of them over the years. This character is a little more solid than his ephemeral abstract writing and manages to convey a certain amount of mystery and intrigue.
I am always reminded when I see this character, of a wonderful double LP that me and my sister had as children, which was a musical version of Alice in Wonderland, and thanks to the Interweb, here is a picture of it. Try and find an online version to listen to, you won’t regret it.
Alice in Wonderland album cover. A brilliant musical version with a star-studded cast.
Mr Klue is definitely one of those ‘peak and trough’ artists. During his productive spells, you can barely visit certain spots without seeing a new piece from the artist, and earlier this year he dominated the walls in St Werburghs tunnel. At other times Mr Klue goes very quiet for extended periods, so it was a genuine pleasure to find this small piece by him up at Purdown.
Mr Klue, Purdown, Bristol, September 2023
The piece carries a common motif that Mr Klue paints, of a headless character wearing a large top hat with a ticket in the band. The hat belongs to Lewis Carroll’s Mad Hatter. Although only a quick one, it is great to see Mr Klue out and about. Perhaps this is the start of a new productive period.
Mr Klue has always enjoyed painting in the tunnel, but recently he has started to ‘own’ the place, with this beautiful offering being the third piece in a gallery of three. If he continues at this rate, he will have the whole wall to himself, which would be pretty impressive. Of course that will never happen, because of the turnover in the tunnel, but to have three, and another one at the other end is going some.
Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2023
In this piece, with its stunning colours, it is possible to read the letters KLUE, especially if you are looking out for them. As is often the case with Mr Klue’s work, he has included his Mad Hatter character (invisible head) to the right, rounding the piece off nicely. Can he extend this streak to a fourth panel, before it all gets overpainted? Watch this space.
It is going to have to be a bit of a quick one this morning, because this weekend is Upfest, and I have to get myself off to the second day to see the completion of the board pieces in Greville Smyth Park. What a festival. The weather yesterday was gorgeous, and it was amazing to catch up with so many artists. I have enough material to keep this blog going for at least six months, which is going to be something of a challenge.
This Mad Hatter piece from Mr Klue is in his favourite spot, and what is really gratifying about it is that it looks like he has painted over a rather ordinary throw up that had been painted over his previous piece in this spot. What comes around goes around.
Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, May 2022
It is so good to see that Mr Klue is back on the streets painting his ethereal abstract work, and seems to have found his rhythm again after a long period away from painting walls. This particular character is one the Mr Klue paints often, and includes a ticket in the hat, this time with the number 23 in it, the significance of which I don’t know. All is well with Mr Klue.
Every year, it seems that Mr Klue takes some time out from painting walls, which is a pity, but it makes his return all the sweeter when it does happen. Mr Klue has been busy lately creating his outstanding pieces at the ‘farm end’ of St Werburghs tunnel, which seems to be his safe, ‘go-to’ spot.
Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, April 2022
This piece returns to a running theme in Mr Klue’s art, which is a portrayal of the Mad Hatter from Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland – a rich source of inspiration for many street artists. The exaggerated top hat with the 10/6 ticket is matched up with a shirt and tie along with a smoking cigarette. There is something slightly unsettling, but also endearing about this piece. It is always good to see Mr Klue’s work, and I hope this will be a sustained effort from the fabulous abstract artist.
Mr Klue is going through a productive and creative patch at the moment, and it is a real pleasure to see his work springing up all over the place. This large piece in the tunnel at St Werburghs is a bit of a feast for the eyes.
Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2020
Unfortunately, the light in the tunnel has goofed up the colours a bit and a car was parked in a place where I couldn’t swing to the right to get more natural light on the image. Why do people park in the tunnel? Sadly I can’t go back to get more pictures, because it has already gone. Turnover in the tunnel is so high at the moment, probably because we have had so much rain.
Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2020
The piece itself is classic Mr Klue fare with the added bonus of a character and his top hat, most likely influenced by Carroll’s mad hatter. Mr Klue has used this imagery several times in his murals and it adds another layer of mystery to his abstract work. A grand piece.
Turbo Island Has seen quite a bit of action in the last month. First there was a reminder to vote in the election from DNT (not posted), then there was a happy Christmas message from Rezwonk and Decay, and then early in the new year, Mr Klue gave us this lovely abstract piece.
Mr Klue, Turbo Island, Bristol, January 2020
Nothing lasts long on this hoarding before it gets tagged, and I was a bit slow in photographing this one. I do think though that it is a great place for street/graffiti art and I would like to think that this will become a high quality high turnover space for local artists. It certainly is in a fantastic spot with a whole ton of cars passing by every day, and I think that there is an element of curation from the Peeople’s Republic of Stokes Croft.
Mr Klue has included a Mad Hatter’s hat, which is a motif used reasonably frequently in the artist’s work. Great to see a flurry of Mr Klue pieces this winter, because as many will know I am an admirer of his nicely understated work.
I have said it ad nauseam that Mr Klue is being incredibly productive these days and I guess I will continue to say it for as long as he keeps painting these wonderful pieces. This slightly smaller than usual one contains a character who appears reasonably regularly on Mr Klue’s work.
Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, March 2019
There is the suggestion of a man in a shirt and tie wearing what looks like the Mad Hatter’s hat complete with 10/6 label. I like the smokey, wispy abstract style that Mr Klue uses and the fact theat he is constantly playing with etherial ideas. All good.
Natural adventures 