Tag: Mr Penfold

2790. Gloucester Road

I have waited a long while to photograph this mural from Mr Penfold, mainly because it is not in a place I frequent all that much, there isn’t any other street art to speak of just in this spot, so it requires a special trip or an occasion when I happen to be in the right place at the right time.

Mr Penfold, Gloucester Road, Bristol, February 2020
Mr Penfold, Gloucester Road, Bristol, February 2020

That time was about a month ago on one of those rare sunny days in an otherwise very wet (the wettest on record) February. This mural is what Mr Penfold does so well and so distinctively. In his ‘liquorice allsort’ colours and 1980’s designer patterns Mr Penfold presents with a pleasing abstract pece that turns a boring wall into a point of interest. This is most likely a comission from the shop or possibly from the Business Improvement District. A nice piece.

2554. Midland Road

Obvs this is a piece by Mr Penfold and what a grand piece it is too. This large design that presents five bold patterns separated by jaggedy white lines is typical of his his more recent work. I say more recent, but I should add that this picture was taken in x 2018.

Mr Penfold, Midland Road, Bristol, March 2018
Mr Penfold, Midland Road, Bristol, March 2018

When writing this post, I used StreetView to remind myself of the street name, and was surprised to find that this piece has grown considerably in size and now occupies the facade of the building to the right as well. Watch this space for an update… one day.

The blue plaque, on what is now the ‘To The Moon’ bar and cafe, is a memorial to John Wright or ‘John the Caff’ as he was known locally. His obituary in The Guardian from July 2009 can be found here.

2394. King Street

Mr Penfold is a designer who paints quite a few commissions in and around Bristol, and his characteristically colourful patterns are unmistakably his work. I think that his art tends to divide opinion a little, but I have to say that I am always rather pleased to find a piece by him.

Mr Penfold, King Street, Bristol, August 2019
Mr Penfold, King Street, Bristol, August 2019

This one on King Street is a favourite spot for the artist and is a replacement for a piece he painted there a while back. The most annoying thing about it is that the red wheelie bin is permanently parked right in front of it and it is very hard to get a clean shot (you can see I failed miserably). The colours that Mr Penfold selects always reminds me of confectionary, in particular liquorice allsorts, you can probably see why. There is an interesting feature on the wall just to the right of Mr Penfold’s piece, which is the letters St N P, carved into the stone wall of. I don’t know if this is some kind of stone mason marking or a signpost or something else… answers on a postcard please.

2134. Nelson Street (11)

I have walked past this pioece by Mr Penfold a handful of times, but not until recently did I have my camera with me, which is a pity really because it has been rather spoiled with a tag. It is in a little alley just off Nelson Street and close to St John the Baptist church.

Mr Penfold, Nelson Street, Bristol, March 2019
Mr Penfold, Nelson Street, Bristol, March 2019

His work always contains these abstract designs in bright colours, often incorporating animal print patterning. The colours in this piece are typical of his work, which can often be seen brightening up shop fronts and public spaces. Something about his work reminds me very much of the 1980s, it might be the brashness of the placing together of contrasting patterns and colours. Always instantly recognisable, and usually upbeat work.

2105. Upfest 2018 (132)

Alas, this piece by Mr Penfold did not last long after Upfest, and has since been replaced by a wonderful piece featured on Natural Adventures by SPZero76. The wall is an interesting one in that it is curated by the Hangfire Gallery just opposite, and although the piece appeared during Upfest, I don’t think it constitutes an ‘official’ Upfest piece. I have to say that I am not all that bothered by such things, but I love the abstract work that Mr Penfold has created.

Mr Penfold, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Mr Penfold, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

His work has a real feel of the 1980s about it, a vibrancy and brashness that assaults the eyes with colour and shapes that draw attention. The other thing I associate with his work is Liquorice Allsorts, because of the blacks, pinks, light blues and yellows… yum yum.

I have plenty more pieces by Mr Penfold and feel he is somewhat under represented in this blog… I think that’ll have to change.

1290. Small Street (1)

On my walks to Leonard Lane in the city centre, the walks I really enjoy, I usually come face to face with this hairdresser’s shop as I get spat out of the lane and into Small Street. Every time I go there I forget to take a picture, but not this time.

Mr Penfold, Small Street, Bristol, January 2018
Mr Penfold, Small Street, Bristol, January 2018

The shop front is by Bristol designer Mr Penfold, who does quite a few design commissions in and around the city. Every now and again he also does a street art piece, but that seems to be a bit of a rarity these days. This is typical of his modern, fresh design work and certainly brings some colour to this rather unexceptional frontage.

787. Stokes Croft shutter

Mr Penfold is first and foremost a designer, whose work is largely abstract and uses colours and shapes that remind me of a cross between the 1980s and art deco. Clean crisp lines and floating objects.

Mr Penfold, Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2017
Mr Penfold, Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2017

His graffiti/street art work is very different to anything else found in Bristol and instantly recognisable. Whilst I like to see his pieces appearing around the city, his style does not pull me in as much as some of the other artists in Bristol.

408. Old Bread Street (7)

Every now and then I begin to think I know quite a lot about street art in Bristol. I write about it every day, and feature dozens of different artists in this blog. And then…I visit one of my favourite sites and see this, and realise I have so much more to learn.

Mr Penfold, Old Bread Street, Bristol, September 2016
Mr Penfold, Old Bread Street, Bristol, September 2016

It is always exciting coming across a new artist, but also a little threatening…how could I have missed them? Who are they? Are they local? Many doubts begin to challenge your knowledge and credibility. Then I have the light-bulb moment…I am doing this for fun, not to be judged. This is not work, it is a passion, and learning and discovery are my companions on this journey. I didn’t know anything about Mr Penfold (Tim Gresham), before I saw this, maybe I should have done but I have never seen his work before. This piece is so different and eye-catching, I had to find out more and write about it.

Mr Penfold, Old Bread Street, Bristol, September 2016
Mr Penfold, Old Bread Street, Bristol, September 2016

Mr Penfold (thirty-something) is originally from Cambridge, now based in Bristol,  and works using various media and surfaces. Clearly a disciplined designer, he applies his talents to graphics, advertising, painting and street art. His work is very distinctive, and appears to draw on what I consider to be quite an ’80s and ’90s look. On reading his Facebook page I see that he has done another recent piece near where I work, so watch this space for more Mr Penfold.

Sorry about the water on the lens!