7887. St Mark’s Avenue (14)

Bethan Richards, St Mark's Avenue, Bristol, July 2026
Bethan Richards, St Mark’s Avenue, Bristol, July 2026

Typically, when I think of an avenue I have in my mind’s eye a semi-rural tree-lined straight road leading to or from a special town or estate. St Mark’s Avenue brings that idyll instantly back down to earth. It is a narrow back alley, full of bins and until recently rather grubby and neglected, but thanks to a small local community group, it has been transformed with planters for pollinators and some rather fetching street art from local artists along the way.

Bethan Richards, St Mark's Avenue, Bristol, July 2026
Bethan Richards, St Mark’s Avenue, Bristol, July 2026

This piece, by Bethan Richards, an artist I haven’t come across before, fits the allocated space so very well. The illustrative design style reminds me a little of Zoe Power, a Bristol artist who is well known on the mural scene. There are lots of nature connection themes in an urban landscape, which really captures the essence of the improvements being bade by community groups in this area. Lovely work.

5807. St Mark’s Avenue (9)

Sako and Zake, St Mark's Avenue, Bristol, January 2024
Sako and Zake, St Mark’s Avenue, Bristol, January 2024

Photographing this piece in a narrow alley in Easton was never going to be easy. I had to remove (and replace) three heavy wheelie bins, just to get sight of the collaboration by Sako and Zake. There are other bits and bobs obscuring the piece, but I am an archivist, not a blooming street cleaner.

Sako and Zake, St Mark's Avenue, Bristol, January 2024
Sako and Zake, St Mark’s Avenue, Bristol, January 2024

I really enjoy Sako’s work, which has more than a hint of mystery and intrigue. Using his favoured blue and purple tints, he has created a gangway leading into a tunnel, with a giant hand emerging from the water and a tiny figure standing on a finger. Wistfully looking on is a profile portrait piece by Zake, which is quite unlike his more usual larger-than-life exaggerated cartoon portraits. A beautiful face and beautiful hair.

This is a fine collaboration from the pair of artists, and has left me wondering what it is all about. The sooner I get to meet Sako, the better.