Tag: Stencil

7651. M32 roundabout J2 (25)

John D'oh, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, April 2026
John D’oh, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, April 2026

Another stencil from the production line that John D’oh seems to have been preparing over the winter and which is fast filling up the column space in this area underneath the M32.

John D'oh, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, April 2026
John D’oh, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, April 2026

This one is poking a bit of fun at the authorities who have by and large completely failed to suppress the Bristol street art scene. A sleeping policeman sitting on a fold-up chair has the words “Street art isn’t illegal until they catch you”, which isn’t technically correct, but the point is made. A lighthearted piece from John D’oh.

7646. M32 roundabout J2 (24)

John D'oh, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, April 2026
John D’oh, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, April 2026

Where to start? There is so much to unpick in this political stencil piece by John D’oh. I’m not sure that I can offer too many of my own thoughts that the piece provokes, but I am sure that they are shared to varying degrees by many.

John D'oh, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, April 2026
John D’oh, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, April 2026

The action of Israel (the state of) depicted by death handing over a flower to a small innocent child holding a teddy bear is very powerful and rather moving. The faux reassurance hiding behind the violence is what comes across most strongly. I could write an essay about this, but I am resisting the temptation and am time-limited. John D’oh doing what he does best.

7635. M32 roundabout J2 (23)

John D'oh, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, April 2026
John D’oh, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, April 2026

John D’oh presents us with another fun stencil from underneath the M32 motorway. This one dates itself, being an Easter piece. Here we see as presentation of the Easter Bunny that we may never have seen before.

John D'oh, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, April 2026
John D’oh, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, April 2026

The artist has an eye for seeing things in a slightly different way and is often trying to find humour in the benign or ordinary. I’m not sure that I’ll ever look at Easter eggs in the same way after seeing this.

7625. M32 roundabout J2 (21)

John D'oh, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, April 2026
John D’oh, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, April 2026

Another piece from John D’oh’s awesome outdoor gallery underneath the M32, this time adopting cartoon characters to describe a fairly laid-back Bristol lifestyle.

John D'oh, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, April 2026
John D’oh, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, April 2026

What better characters to adopt than a combination of Shaggy and Scooby Doo alongside a Bristol crocodile, all smoking weed and looking contented. I guess that Bristol is no different from any other western world city, but somehow this weed-smoking culture appears to have become inextricably linked to the place. A knowing stencil poking fun at at the city’s culture.

7621. M32 roundabout J2 (21)

John D'oh, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, April 2026
John D’oh, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, April 2026

I don’t think that John D’oh seems to have any intention of slowing down on his magnificent outdoor gallery underneath the M32. He appears to be adding new pieces on a regular basis, and I have to say that I am thoroughly enjoying this rich vein of form from the stencil artist.

John D'oh, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, April 2026
John D’oh, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, April 2026

There is a lot of symbolism in this piece, although I can’t quite figure out the narrative. A strong woman in ancient classical clothing is standing confidently with a raised clenched fist. Behind her is a broken chain and an olive branch. The chain suggests human bondage, and the olive branch, peace. I am guessing that this is a piece of resistance during war, but that is my take on it. So much more still to come from this outdoor gallery.

7612. M32 roundabout J2 (20)

John D'oh, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, April 2026
John D’oh, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, April 2026

I expect that Popeye will be a familiar character for many, although post-millennial cohorts are unlikely to identify strongly or even at all with the iconic character. Certainly, John D’oh provides an indication of his likely age with this characterful stencil underneath the M32 motorway.

John D'oh, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, April 2026
John D’oh, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, April 2026

John D’oh skilfully blends the Popeye character with contemporary politics making a link between spinach greens and the Green Party, with the words ‘Eat green, vote green’. This is a particularly salient message with the upcoming local elections next month in which the Greens are expected to do rather well, picking up disaffected left of centre voters.

7606. M32 roundabout J2 (19)

John D'oh, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, March 2026
John D’oh, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, March 2026

Another piece (and there are so many more to come) from John D’oh’s under-motorway gallery. This is a humorous piece, which leans into smutty, which I guess is all part of the edginess of street art.

John D'oh, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, March 2026
John D’oh, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, March 2026

The fine stencil of a young woman is accompanied by the words “Things not to say on Valentine’s day: You might not be my happy ever after, but you could be my happy ending?”. On a picky point, the second half of the sentence doesn’t read as a question, and I think that the ‘you’ and the ‘could’ are the wrong way round. The piece has the potential to cause offence, although I think the emphasis is on humour. Not one of his best ideas, but nonetheless part of his varied portfolio.

7593. Brunel Way (355)

Maybe, Brunel Way, Bristol, April 2026

Back in his favourite spot, Maybe has started painting his unique dreamy pieces once again after a lengthy break. I haven’t quite worked out his technique in full yet, but he makes good use of stencils to pick out some clear distinctions between different elements of his pieces.

Maybe, Brunel Way, Bristol, April 2026

This one features one of his favoured motifs, that of a silhouette face with pursed lips. He has selected some lovely colours, and blended the colour transitions really well. It is so good to see him out and about painting again.

7589. M32 roundabout J2 (17)

John D'oh, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, March 2026
John D’oh, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, March 2026

Another wonderful stencil piece from John D’oh’s outdoor gallery underneath the M32. There is no annotation, just an image of a woman speaking into a megaphone, from which flowers are cascading.

John D'oh, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, March 2026
John D’oh, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, March 2026

The piece tells a story which I guess is open to interpretation. I think it speaks of protest and peace, a little bit like Banksy’s famous ‘flower thrower’. The piece is beautifully presented, simple and thought-provoking. Good to see.

7571. M32 roundabout J2 (16)

John D'oh, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, March 2026
John D’oh, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, March 2026

Another column piece from the John D’oh gallery of stencils underneath the M32. The artist has certainly made himself at home here, and I note from his Instagram account that he has been busy down there again recently.

John D'oh, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, March 2026
John D’oh, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, March 2026

This simple piece features a rather stereotyped curvaceous woman holding a book and tilting her glasses. The caption says ‘love is like street art, sometimes it doesn’t last long’, which I guess can be true, there is also an additional view that might take the position ‘love is like street art, sometimes it lasts forever’. Yet more to come from this rich seam of  John D’oh gold.