6097. Vestry Street, Leicester

Smug, Vestry Street, Leicester, May 2024
Smug, Vestry Street, Leicester, May 2024

This is another outstanding Smug piece that I photographed during a short visit to Leicester last month. It is difficult to convey the sheer scale of the piece, because it is relatively thin, but as you can see it is seven stories tall, and somehow manages to complement the building perfectly. I believe it has been here for quite a while, since at least 2019, but I might be wrong.

Smug, Vestry Street, Leicester, May 2024
Smug, Vestry Street, Leicester, May 2024

The stunning piece features a woman, perfectly slotted into this narrow space, with a bullfinch in flight by her head. The photorealistic representation is quite extraordinary, in particular the folds of the woman’s clothing and her scarf. This and the other Smug piece are worth the trip to Leicester alone. Utterly outstanding and overwhelming.

6095. Clare Road

Molly Murals, Clare Road, Bristol, June 2024
Molly Murals, Clare Road, Bristol, June 2024

Well, this came a little bit out of the blue, and I only recently noticed it while driving along Stapleton Road between the M32 Spot and M32 roundabout. The enormous mural painted in May 2024 by Molly Murals is one of three public art installations aimed at revitalising Stapleton Road in Bristol – I’ve yet to discover the other two (I think). You can read up much more about this piece on her excellent website.

Molly Murals, Clare Road, Bristol, June 2024
Molly Murals, Clare Road, Bristol, June 2024

The abstract design is bright and vibrant and really large, bringing a sense of community pride to an area that can at times feel a little neglected. There are design elements that share commonalities with other artists in Bristol, such as Zoe Power and to a certain extent, Mr Penfold. Of course, that doesn’t detract from her design, rather it is a compliment.This is great stuff from a busy and successful Bristol muralist.

6089. Upfest 2024 (16)

Jacqui Butterworth, North Street Standard, Bristol, Upfest 24, May 2024
Jacqui Butterworth, North Street Standard, Bristol, Upfest 24, May 2024

This is a particularly popular wall, although sometimes a little tricky to photograph. It is outside the North Street Standard and for this year’s Upfest has been stunningly painted by Jacqui Butterworth. After admiring the photorealism of the piece, the first question or thought has to be that there is a rather special story going on here, with plenty of symbolism. Interpretation is another matter though.

Jacqui Butterworth, North Street Standard, Bristol, Upfest 24, May 2024
Jacqui Butterworth, North Street Standard, Bristol, Upfest 24, May 2024

The mural starts with some steps leading up to a grand piano upon which a black and a white swan have made themselves at home. Two cygnets are in attendance and the one beneath the piano is lying down with some roses scattered on the floor.

Jacqui Butterworth, North Street Standard, Bristol, Upfest 24, May 2024
Jacqui Butterworth, North Street Standard, Bristol, Upfest 24, May 2024

The ‘harp’ inside the piano is reflected on the shiny underside of the piano lid, although I note that the black swan isn’t, implying that it is a figment of the viewer’s imagination. There are so many details to enjoy, such as the toppled wine glass above the keyboard, the shiny glint on the lid prop and the patterns on the castors. This is a beauty indeed, and conjures up the music of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake. Bravo Jacqui!

6076. Upfest 2024 (13)

Artez, West Street, Upfest 24, Bristol, May 2024
Artez, West Street, Upfest 24, Bristol, May 2024

This extraordinary mural by Serbian artist Artez is one of the most iconic pieces to emerge from the incredible Upfest 2024, which was staged over three weekends in May and June. Although there wasn’t a street ‘festival’ this year in one of the south Bristol Parks, the organisers triumphed with finding a host of new walls to feature some of the best artists in the world.

Artez, West Street, Upfest 24, Bristol, May 2024
Artez, West Street, Upfest 24, Bristol, May 2024

I was not familiar with Artez, as I don’t believe he has visited Bristol before, but after seeing this piece I will most definitely be keeping an eye on him. There is a wonderful connection in this piece with the space it is painted on and the subject, whose tummy aligns with the vertical wall and bent knees reflect the pitch of the roof. Clever stuff.

Artez, West Street, Upfest 24, Bristol, May 2024
Artez, West Street, Upfest 24, Bristol, May 2024

I could spend hours looking at this piece, which gives off an incredible sense of calm and peacefulness. The unusual position that the woman is in adds interest, and the large empty spaces around her draw attention to her face, her body and the folds of material in her clothes. A masterpiece from Artez.

6069. Leicester

Smug, Leicester, May 2024
Smug, Leicester, May 2024

On a recent work trip to Leicester, I was fortunate enough to have a little over an hour early in the morning before meeting up with colleagues to wander around the streets. I met a very nice man called Cameron who showed me around the best spots, which probably saved me a great deal of time.

My visit also happened to coincide (utterly unplanned) with Leicester’s ‘Bring the Paint’ festival. Unfortunately, it was the first day of the festival and no new pieces were yet painted. What I do have though is a good record of the pieces that were at the end of their lifespan and were due to be painted over. This extraordinary piece by Smug was not being painted over, thankfully.

Smug, Leicester, May 2024
Smug, Leicester, May 2024

This is an iconic piece by Smug, and one that I had seen all over social media, but hadn’t ever registered where it was located, so coming across it in Leicester was an absolute bonus. There are no words really that would do the piece justice, so I will probably leave it there and just enjoy the memory of one of the best murals I have ever seen.

6046. Upfest 2024 (5)

M. Oldhues, Ashton Road, Upfest 24, Bristol, May 2024
M. Oldhues, Ashton Road, Upfest 24, Bristol, May 2024

I think that this year, Steve and Emma, the organisers of Upfest, have definitely focused their efforts on securing more permanent walls in Bedminster for even more high-end artists from around the world to come to Bristol and leave their mark. There is an immediate and positive impact of the buildings and their surroundings when a new ‘marquee’ piece goes up.

M. Oldhues, Ashton Road, Upfest 24, Bristol, May 2024
M. Oldhues, Ashton Road, Upfest 24, Bristol, May 2024

This is an absolute beauty from Megan Oldhues, who is based in Toronto, Canada, and who describes her work as traditional realism, which I think it is the perfect description for this outstanding piece. I have been writing about street art and graffiti for almost ten years now, and I can honestly say that this still life piece ranks right up there with my all-time favourites. Not only is the piece magnificent in every way, but the transformative effect it has had on this unexceptional terraced building is quite extraordinary.

M. Oldhues, Ashton Road, Upfest 24, Bristol, May 2024
M. Oldhues, Ashton Road, Upfest 24, Bristol, May 2024

Somehow when looking at this mural, the brain completely shuts out the windows, which before the building was painted, were the only features to see, breaking up the monotony of the wall. Although I usually immerse myself in ‘everyday’ graffiti writing and street art, it is awe inspiring to see impressive murals like this one from time to time. Megan Oldhues is welcome in Bristol any time.

6221. Peterborough

Nyces, Peterborough, April 2024
Nyces, Peterborough, April 2024

My work trip to Peterborough in April had spin-off benefits, as do all my work trips when I am ‘on tour’, in the form of exploring a new city, finding interesting doors and sniffing out graffiti and street art. I cannot visit a new place without having my extended radar on full alert for opportunities to find things that interest me – some might call it marginally obsessive, and they might be right.

Nyces, Peterborough, April 2024
Nyces, Peterborough, April 2024

Nyces (Nathan Murdoch) is a bit of a celebrity in his home city, and this piece sparked a series of local newspaper and TV features about the artist, such as this one in the Peterborough Telegraph. The colourful piece is not only wonderfully painted in a patchwork of colour and geometric segments, it also has an uplifting message for the heavy traffic that passes by saying “Hello my beautiful people”. Nyces is a big graffiti fish in a small bowl.

6003. Peterborough

Nyces, Peterborough, April 2024
Nyces, Peterborough, April 2024 (morning)

Last month I visited Peterborough for work, and because it is some distance away from Bristol, I stayed the night before the workshop I was leading, in a hotel. On the way to my lodgings, I took a meandering route (as I always do when visiting an unfamiliar town or city), and was rewarded with this unbelievable mural by Nyces (Nathan Murdoch).

Nyces, Peterborough, April 2024
Nyces, Peterborough, April 2024 (afternoon)

It appears that Nyces is ‘the’ street artist in town, and although there are small pockets of graffiti writing in various places, Nyces ‘owns’ the walls of Peterborough. This outstanding piece is obviously a reflection of the horrific war in Gaza, with a child in combat gear sitting forlornly in a desert near a makeshift dwelling. A spray can sits amongst pebbles in the foreground, but the small bacon of hope comes from the snowdrop flower emitting some sparkles of light. This is a moving piece that has a calm about it, a sense of resignation – very powerful. It is superbly painted too.

I got really lucky on my way back to the station after my workshop. I had been told that there was an artist painting in the shopping centre opposite the station, and indeed it was Nyces who was painting a series of large murals to brighten the place up. Naturally I introduced myself and has great chat with him. Although he doesn’t leave Peterborough too often, he has visited Bristol once or twice in the past. One or two more pieces to come from Peterborough’s Nyces.

Sophie Long

A gallery of extraordinary animal murals from Bristol artist and street artist Sophie Long

Instagram: @Sophielongart

Sophie Long, Midland Road, Bristol, March 2024
Sophie Long, Midland Road, Bristol, March 2024

Sophie Long, Cheltenham Paint Festival 23. Cheltenham, July 2023
Sophie Long, Cheltenham Paint Festival, Cheltenham, July 2023

Sophie Long, Cheltenham Paint Festival 23. Cheltenham, July 2023
Sophie Long, Cheltenham Paint Festival, Cheltenham, July 2023

Sophie Long, Weston wallz, Weston-super-Mare, May 2023
Sophie Long, Weston wallz, Weston-super-Mare, May 2023

Sophie Long, Weston wallz, Weston-super-Mare, May 2023
Sophie Long, Weston wallz, Weston-super-Mare, May 2023

Sophie Long, Cheltenham Paint Festival 22, July 2022
Sophie Long, Cheltenham Paint Festival 22, July 2022

Sophie Long, North Street, Bristol, August 2021, Upfest 21
Sophie Long, North Street, Bristol, August 2021, Upfest 21

Sophie Long, North Street, Bristol, August 2021, Upfest 21
Sophie Long, North Street, Bristol, August 2021, Upfest 21

Sophie Long, North Street, Bristol, October 2020
Sophie Long, North Street, Bristol, October 2020

Sophie Long, Paint Festival 2019, Cheltenham, September 2019
Sophie Long, Paint Festival 2019, Cheltenham, September 2019

Sophie Long, Paint Festival 2019, Cheltenham, September 2019
Sophie Long, Paint Festival 2019, Cheltenham, September 2019

Sophie Long, Paint Festival 2019, Cheltenham, September 2019
Sophie Long, Paint Festival 2019, Cheltenham, September 2019

Sophie Long, North Street, Bristol, January 2020
Sophie Long, North Street, Bristol, January 2020

Sophie Long, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Sophie Long, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

Sophie Long, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Sophie Long, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

Sophie Long, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Sophie Long, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

Sophie Long, Cheltenham Road, Bristol, November 2017
Sophie Long, Cheltenham Road, Bristol, November 2017

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.