Portrait – Page 7 – Natural adventures

6844. Watkinson Street, Liverpool

John Culshaw, Watkinson Street, Liverpool, March 2025

Perhaps the least surprising theme for street art in Liverpool was a link in some way or other to the Beatles. It seems that so much of the culture of the city is reliant on the greatest music group ever, and it is difficult to avoid any cultural references to them wherever you happen to be in the city.

John Culshaw, Watkinson Street, Bristol, March 2025

This fine portrait piece of the Fab Four by John Culshaw (an artist I know nothing about) features, from left to right, Ringo, John, Paul and George. Each of the portraits is skilfully painted in two-tone colours, with the whole thing looking like an album cover. Fun fact, I was at school with Zak Starkey (only for a short overlap, and he wasn’t in my year), Ringo Starr’s son. More Beatles related street art in my next post.

6833. St James street, Liverpool

Liam Bononi, St James Street, Liverpool, March 2025

There were several memorable highlights to our recent weekend away in Liverpool, and nestled just under my wife’s completion of the half-marathon, and walking around the docks and the Liver building, was this utterly outstanding portrait mural by Liam Bononi.

The portrait piece, of a contorted agonised male face, is particularly impactful on account of both its size and its positioning on an entire elevation of a large, isolated Victorian building. There is so much detail in the face and hands, a signature of Liam Bononi’s work, and there is a fair amount of emotional wrestling going on here.

Without doubt, I am a big fan of Liam Bononi’s work, and the quality of his portraits. What a fabulous surprise to find one as magnificent as this on the back streets of Liverpool.

6831. Jordan Street, Liverpool

Aske, Jordan Street, Liverpool, March 2025

A couple of weeks ago I visited Liverpool with my wife and daughter to cheer on my wife and our nephew-in-law who were running the half-marathon. After finding a strategic place to stop and wave them on at the mile marker, we had an hour or two to kill before being at the finishing line at the end of their admirable adventure. Our rather less energetic walk took us to a café, which happened to be in a street art district.

This discovery had been completely unplanned by me, I have only once before been to Liverpool, long before I was interested in street art, and didn’t do any research before our trip. I got lucky once again. While my daughter and niece, caught up and had a coffee, I ran around the area, like a mad thing, taking as many pictures as I could. This was one of the first.

As a football fan, I can appreciate that this is a fine piece on two levels. One, the quality of the portrait of Jurgen Klopp, former manager of Liverpool Football Club, and two, the love for football and how the local team touches lives. The artist is Aske, not known to me, and this is a fine tribute to a local hero. More from this Liverpool adventure to come.

6823. Dean Lane skate park (816)

There is no question about it, Stivs is an extremely talented artist. Whether it is his extraordinarily tight calligraffiti, his cartoon characters or his portrait pieces, his natural ability shines through in all of his work. Recently he painted this stunning portrait piece in Dean Lane, bringing enjoyment to many.

I don’t know whether it is easier or more difficult to paint portrait pieces in single tones or in full colour, but either way, I am in awe of anyone who carries it off. This is a beautiful cartoon portrait piece, that feels like it has a Japanese film influence, but I am only guessing. The different tones and shades in the face create wonderful depth, and the subtle streaks in the hair hint at the shape and style of it. An outstanding and quite unexpected piece.

6818. St Werburghs tunnel (486)

Badger Feral and Stivs, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2025

This slightly unusual collaboration from Badger Feral and Stivs has been turning a few heads, and not surprisingly, as it is rather striking. While I am very familiar with Stivs’ work, I believe this is the first piece I have come across by Badger Feral.

Badger Feral, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2025

Starting with the Badger Feral piece, we are presented with a portrait of a hooded woman, with red hair and gold earrings. Her blue eyes are matched by the hood around her head. The portrait has a slightly darker side, with an inverted cross on the woman’s forehead, and her hood is suspended by a line of little skulls. Lots to take in here, and plenty of symbolism too.

Stivs, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2025

Stivs on the other hand has painted a portrait of a jolly fellow wearing a cap. I don’t know who the character is, but there might be a clue in the ‘Jim Bitch’ that accompanies the piece. Stivs has painted the portrait in a photorealistic style, and it looks like, from subsequent pieces, that he is rather enjoying portrait work at the moment. There is so much to take in from this ever so slightly weird collaboration.

6814. M32 roundabout J3 (667)

Stivs and Pekoe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2025

It was great to see this collaboration from Stivs and Pekoe recently, two artists who are knocking out some fabulous work at the moment. To the left, the calligraffiti letters are by Stivs and the character portrait on the right is by Pekoe.

Stivs, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2025

Stivs has written his familiar letters DSC, which stands for Dog Supremacy Crew (formerly Dog Shit Crew – I think). The beautiful letters are not quite as elaborate as some of his calligraffiti pieces, but are nonetheless impressive. From the size and intricacy of it, I would think that he painted this fairly quickly.

Pekoe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2025

To the right, Pekoe, in keeping with the collaboration colour scheme, has painted this wonderful blue-faced portrait of a young woman with a fabulous hairdo. There is a symmetry in the face, and a slightly haunting stare. The piece is beautifully produced, and so very neat and tidy. I am not sure what the significance of the road cone is, but I’ll take it.

6805. Cumberland Basin

Mind 49, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2025

Ooh! How brilliant to see Mind 49 returning to the streets after a relatively quiet start to the year. Commensurate with his last piece at the Greenbank spot in January, Mind 49 has combined a photorealistic portrait with a cartoon illustration, carrying some threat and menace.

The portrait is superb, painted in his unique style that creates what I would term a blurred photorealism, rather than some of the perfect sharp pieces that you see from time to time. The cartoon parts begin around the main character’s neck and show him holding a pistol. In the background, a hooded character looks on. I love the way that Mind 49 brings these two very different styles together and makes them sit side by side effortlessly. Looking forward to more as the days get longer and weather warms up.

6804. M32 Spot (199)

Jest Soubriquet, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2025

I am not entirely sure where Jest Soubriquet is based, but he comes to Bristol to paint often enough to make me think it is probably along the M4 corridor somewhere. This piece is painted on one of my favourite walls in Bristol under the M32 and features a wolf.

While I would say there are one or two things not quite right with the Wolf, I think it is a great representation and the colours and shading augment the animal really well. I am interested in the overall composition, which places the wolf in front of a brown and pink background, which might represent something, but I am not sure what. The words’Beware the dogs of war’ accompany the piece and perhaps put into some kind of context. Always great to find pieces by Jest Soubriquet.

6797. Greenway Bush Lane (6)

Pekoe, Greenway Bush Lane, Bristol, February 2025

Pekoe is a firm favourite on Natural Adventures, and this piece, which was painted alongside RBF crew friends Desi and Pura formed the centrepiece of the triptych. I know that Pekoe has an interest in stained-glass windows, and this piece perfectly reflects that interest.

I love Pekoe’s tagline, which appears in most of her work these days ‘hot girls hate fascists’ because it really belittles those whose attitudes are shaped by nasty figures such as Andrew Tate, Trump and the like, who prey on the disillusionment of young men and steer them towards a far right solution to all their problems and whose attitudes undo all the progressive policies that have made the world a much fairer place in my lifetime.

This is a lovely piece that showcases Pekoes versatility, and I wonder if we are going to see any more of these stained-glass style pieces in the future.

6766. Warminster Road

Unknown artist, Warminster Road, Bristol, February 2025

I went on a mini exploration in the St Werburghs area a couple of weeks back and found this unsigned mural near the back entrance of a primary school. I have no idea who the artist is, but have to wonder whether it is by a parent or teacher from the school.

The mural features mirror image female portrait pieces, each wearing a wolf’s head as if they were some kind of pagan costumes. The portraits are black and white and the headdresses subtlety colourful. I wonder if there is some meaning or symbolism in the piece, which looks like it might have been around for some while. If you don’t look for things, you are unlikely to find them. I am glad I had my eyes open when I went on this particular exploration.

	Cethru Cellophane (a… on Hoarse, again
	hitandrun1964 on 7494. Purdown (100)
	hitandrun1964 on 7497. Surbiton Station, L…
	skat on London bound
	Bill Bisgood on Football train

	Cethru Cellophane (a… on Hoarse, again
	hitandrun1964 on 7494. Purdown (100)
	hitandrun1964 on 7497. Surbiton Station, L…
	skat on London bound
	Bill Bisgood on Football train

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