7678. Cumberland Basin

Zake, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2026
Zake, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2026

I forgot to paste this beast of a character face by Zake back in March when he painted it, but found it on a little delve in my archives. Such has been the unbelievable turnover in Bristol this spring, that I have dozens and dozens of superb pieces in my February-April folders that might never see the light of day.

Zake, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2026
Zake, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2026

This cheeky face has been stretched out laterally to fill the long rectangular space. The character is slightly creepy, most of Zake’s characters are, but beautifully presented. His command of light and shade to create depth has been put to full use in this piece using a shade of blue to great effect. Nice one.

7280. St Werburghs tunnel (537)

Zake, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2025
Zake, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2025

This puffy-faced character piece is by Zake, painted in celebration of Kool Hand’s birthday, although officially his birthday was a month earlier. It seems almost impossible to exaggerate the features in a Zake piece, but he has managed to do it here, with the result that it is all a little but disturbing, the cheeks in particular.

Zake, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2025
Zake, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2025

As I have explained many times when writing about Zake’s work, he creates so much depth in his work by playing very skilfully with light and shade, using up lighting and down lighting to cast shadows and to emphasise features. Clever work from a quiet and unassuming artist.

Brunswick Square BS2

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Heavy with blossom

ornamental cherry trees

provide welcome shade.

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by Scooj