Stencil – Natural adventures

7847. Leonard Lane (55)

John D'oh, Leonard Lane, Bristol, May 2026 — John D’oh, Leonard Lane, Bristol, May 2026

As well as occupying many of the columns under the M32, John D’oh does occasionally visit some of his other haunts, including Leonard Lane. I have noticed lately that much of Leonard lane is regularly buffed, so you have to be quick or lucky to see new pieces there.

In this stencil piece, we have a fine rendition of the Disney version of Alice, who is holding up a map of Bristol and thinking what a dump. Certainly, when compared with the fantasy world of Wonderland, that might be true, but I can’t bring myself to agree with her thoughts. A bit of fun in Leonard Lane.

7835. M32 roundabout J2 (32)

John D'oh, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, July 2026 — John D’oh, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, July 2026

John D’oh has had a remarkable purple patch this spring/summer, and maybe his relative quiet for some time before was preparation for this highly productive period. After all, stencils don’t cut themselves and each one represents many hours of work.

This is a piece of deception. At first glance this looks like a boy with a catapult… simple. But have a closer look, there is an impossibility about it. The boy has primed the catapult, fully stretched back, but the stone is already on its way. I like to think of this as a great metaphor for Artificial Intelligence, technically everything looks good, but there is a fundamental mistake, which makes us uneasy. John D’oh is playing with us. Great piece.

7824. M32 roundabout J2 (31)

John D'oh, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, May 2026 — John D’oh, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, May 2026

John D’oh has given me an unforgettable spring and summer with his extraordinary outdoor gallery on the concrete columns supporting the M32 above. Dozens of his stencils decorate the area with humorous and poignant material and then the council come along and buff them which allows him to refresh his gallery with new work. The circle of graffiti life.

This black and white piece with a clever touch of colour carries a powerful message and observation, with the words:

Poverty is not just the lack of money; for a child, it is a lack of security, opportunity and the simple freedom just to be a child.

A quote widely attributed to UNICEF, and perfectly illustrated with a child clutching a teddy bear. The piece is a moving one and right up there with some of John Dohs’ best commentary pieces.

7807. M32 roundabout J2 (31)

A return to John D’oh’s outdoor gallery, which currently is looking a little depleted following a buffing offensive by the council. This fun stencil, from back in May, perhaps highlights the futility of kissing frogs and hoping for a prince in a tired and resigned tone.

The stencil is nicely executed, with a young woman crouching to kiss a frog on a wall. The text above the piece is her thought bubble which reads:

“I’ve kissed so many frogs at this point that I’m not even looking for a prince any more: I’m just trying to develop a natural immunity to salmonella”

Humour is often the backbone of John D’oh’s pieces, and he has done a fine job with this piece. More to come from the artist in this spot.

7804. Jamaica Street (33)

Goin, Jamaica Street, Bristol, July 2026

I had been tipped-off that Goin, who had been in Bristol for Upfest, was going to paint this wonderful ‘extra’ piece in Jamaica Street, but had been told the wrong day, so when I turned up he was nowhere to be seen. When I returned a few days later, here it was in all its glory.

The theme of this greyscale stencil was similar to one he painted for Upfest 2024, in which a young girl defends herself from bullying and danger and through the obvious power the red boxing gloves bestow upon her. The piece is both moving and rebellious, and crafted brilliantly by the French artist.

Goin, Spotted Cow, Upfest 24, Bristol, May 2024

7788. M32 roundabout J2 (30)

Wit and subversion are on full display in this wonderful stencil by John D’oh. I noticed recently, that many of the columns that have hosted his ‘outdoor gallery’ have been buffed, which is a real pity. I do sometimes wonder whether the Bristol City Council have better things to spend their meagre resources on, especially as this little area under the M32 has looked so much more welcoming since John D’oh started painting there, and every time I have visited the space I have seen people down there taking pictures of his work.

The kissing policewomen in this piece is a knowing take on Banksy’s kissing policemen, which was originally painted in Brighton in 2024. Some might find it offensive on various levels, but I find it charming, touching, funny, challenging and subversive in equal measure. A piece that provokes interest every which way. Well done and thank you, John D’oh for doing what you do. Keep it up no matter how often your work gets buffed.

7751. M32 Cycle path (312)

John D'oh, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, June 2026 — John D’oh, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, June 2026

With a playful variation on one of John D’oh’s sayings, this piece reminds us that ‘life is like ice cream, enjoy it before it melts away’. Advice I have not always been very good at heeding, spending too much of my time dwelling in the past or the future, and forgetting to enjoy the moment.

In this great column stencil piece, we see a youth in a hoodie enjoying a ’99’ while a gull above plans its angle of attach. This is a rather more accurate street scene than many might believe. Gulls (although many species are protected under law), can be a real pest, and frequently raid holidaymakers’ ice creams or fish and chips while wandering along a promenade. Fun stuff from John D’oh.

7737. M32 roundabout J2 (29)

Time for another jaunt back to John D’oh’s personal outdoor gallery underneath the M32. This time he presents us with a catchphrase or ‘wisdom’ that he has used before, but with a different accompanying scene.

The stencil piece shows a young boy with a backpack, kneeling down in front of a cat with a dead rat hanging from its mouth. A scene not unfamiliar to anyone who knows or has owned cats. The caption says “Enjoy life, it has an expiration date”. In terms of the artwork, although it is a single-colour stencil, I love the intricate patterning of the cat fur, and the creases in the boy’s trousers. A nicely worked and presented piece.

7721. M32 roundabout J2 (28)

It was great to see that Reform were humiliated in the Makerfield by-election yesterday, although I think there were exceptional circumstances that led to the Labour victory, and that Reform remain a serious threat to the country. They are led by Nigel Farage, the driving force behind Brexit (an unimaginable disaster), and ‘man of the people’ who has just pocketed £5 million from a tech billionaire (no kick backs there?) and is part of the wealthy elite. This piece by John D’oh illustrates this nicely.

Although a small stencil, placed low down on a column, it has a powerful political message and leaves one in no doubt about John D’oh’s sentiments. I am surprised there aren’t more pieces like this about the place, and just hope that Farage pieces aren’t prophetic in any way. I remember posting a piece by Felix Braun featuring Trump and Johnson before either were President/Prime Minister, believing it could happen, but it did and what a disaster for us all it has turned out to be. Heed the warnings.

Felix Braun, Donald and Boris, Stokes Croft, Bristol, 23 May 2016

7708. M32 roundabout J2 (27)

This is another wonderful stencil piece from John D’oh in what has become his personal gallery. The poignant message is so relevant at the moment when global politics are so unstable and the threat of wars heightened.

The words “war does not determine who is right, only who is left”, are doing a lot of heavy lifting, leaving the reader in no doubt about the futility of war. The introduction of colourful flowers is perhaps an earnest attempt to offer some hope, some light that we can cling on to. This is a poignant and powerful piece by John D’oh.

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