The Bristol Womxn Mural Collective are a wonderful group of femxle (to use their convention) artists who come together several times a year to get out of their studios and try their hand at painting on the street. The outcome is invariable something rather special and different from the more conventional work we are used to seeing.
Nina Raines, Cattle Market Road, Bristol, May 2022
This is a superb study of a toadstool by Nina Raines, whose works are so incredibly diverse and don’t conform to a style, on account of her ‘proper’ profession as a theatrical scenic artist. This piece definitely works for me, with its different layers and textures. Great work… more to come from this paint jam.
My wife was a little late for work a couple of weeks ago, so I gave her a lift in the car. Our route takes us onto St Michael’s hill, and I glanced (as I always do when passing by) down a little alleyway favoured by John D’oh and by total luck he was there spraying a new stencil. Of course, after dropping my wife off, I made a bee-line for the alley way and stopped for a quick chat with John D’oh. As always it was a genuine pleasure to catch up, and great to see the artist at work. While we were talking, a bird pooped on one of the freshly painted faces… the perils of being a street artist!
John D’oh, St Michael’s Hill, Bristol, May 2022
The piece is a fantastic awareness work that talks about mental health, in particular depression and anxiety, a topic that resonates for me and my family, and I expect for a great many people in today’s troubled landscape. The words on the stencil piece read:
“Pretending you’re okay is easier than having to explain to anyone why you’re not.
Mental health – don’t suffer in silence
Depression is when you don’t really care about anything, anxiety is when you care too much about everything, and having both is just like hell.”
John D’oh, St Michael’s Hill, Bristol, May 2022
I believe this to be one of John Doh’s finest pieces. The topic aside (a massively important one), he presents four stunning colourful stencils perfectly and seamlessly joined and topped and tailed with a banner and footer. The whole thing is expertly produced and beautifully proportioned.
John D’oh, St Michael’s Hill, Bristol, May 2022
The stylised comic-book characters are cleverly selected to be both eye-catching and, to a degree, nostalgic. It was interesting to see that John D’oh brought elements of this piece to his collage of pieces for Upfest this year – the joy of stencil art.
John D’oh, St Michael’s Hill, Bristol, May 2022
I drove past the spot this morning, on a repeat wife-lift scenario, and saw that he has added another piece to his expanding gallery, so I’ll have to pop up there for another photo session soon. Utterly fabulous work from John D’oh.
DJ Perks, St Werburghs, Bristol, January 2023DJ Perks, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2022DJ Perks, St Werburghs, Bristol, September 2022DJ Perks, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022DJ Perks, L Dub, Bristol, April 2022DJ Perks, L Dub, Bristol, April 2022DJ Perks, L Dub, Bristol, April 2022D J Perks, L Dub, Bristol, April 2022D J Perks, L Dub, Bristol, April 2022DJ Perks, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2022DJ Perks, L Dub, Bristol, June 2021DJPerks, LDub, Bristol, June 2021DJ Perks, L Dub, Bristol, January 2021DJ Perks, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2020DJ Perks, L Dub, Bristol, June 2020DJ Perks, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2019DJ Perks, L Dub, Bristol, October 2019DJPerks, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2019DJPerks, L Dub, Bristol, July 2019
This is one of several Logoe pieces from a short visit to Bristol by the artist recently, and in my view probably the best. On the best wall (IMHO) at Dean Lane skate park, Logoe has taken time and care with this piece, and the proportions work well.
Logoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2022
Following his regular style of slim, white script writing spelling out his name decorated with stripes and elyptical dots, Logoe has produced a beauty here. the colour combinations are excellent, and the whole piece really benefits from a buffed wall, without which it would probably look a bit untidy. I think I still have one or two pieces from this Bristol trip.
While busily searching Bedminster for new Upfest walls, I took a turn down a street I don’t normally visit and at the end saw this lovely stencil from Stewy. The same piece used to be in North Street, but that disappeared some years ago. This brilliant piece portrays the musician Robert Wyatt, who’s version of ‘Ship building’ remains one of my favourite tracks of all time.
Stewy, Mount Pleasant Terrace, Bristol, May 2022
I am so pleased that I found this, because I was a little upset when the North Street one went. It is the joy of stencils, that they can be recreated more than once, extending the lifetime and footprint of a piece of art. Fabulous work by a fabulous artist of a fabulous artist.
I believe that these arches at The Carriageworks are on borrowed time, as the developers of the site have plans to build retail outlets as part of the overall redevelopment of the site, so let’s make hay while the sun shines. Two of Bristol’s most recognised street artists, Sled One and 3Dom, have paired up to give these two arches a bit of a makeover.
Sled One, The Carriageworks, Bristol, May 2022
On the left is yet another spellbinding piece from Sled One, featuring a skull-like character in a red hat next to a pond with a rather arrogant-looking duck swimming about. Sled One has created this surreal scene with such extraordinary detail and clarity. For me there is something of a retro feel about the piece, perhaps it is the colours or the overall way the elements in the water and foliage around the pond are presented, but it looks like it could be a poster from the 1950s with a surreal 2020s twist.
3Dom, The Carriageworks, Bristol, May 2022
On the right hand arch 3Dom has painted an incredible dreamy piece where the main character, unlike anything we know or understand, is curled around the shape of the archway space. There is something most endearing about this smiley faced, reptile-humanoid creature, but look a little closer and there is something a little intriguing too. A love arrow runs through the character, although I’m not entirely sure what it signifies. I get a feeling that much of 3Dom’s work is about cherishing our beautiful Earth and a warning about its decline and losses in the natural world, he tells these stories through his ‘otherworldly’ characters almost as if warning us about the perils ahead. Of course they might simply be beautiful images without any hidden meaning, but I doubt it.
There is no doubting that Farrah is fast becoming the darling of Bristol mural art, and deservedly so. Her work can be seen all over the city now and is predominantly commission work, although she has painted one or two other walls too. Her bright brush strokes and abstract artwork alongside environmental themes makes her work a ‘safe’ option for commissioners and the Council, who are currently waging war against illegal street art.
Farrah, Bristol Royal Infirmary steps, Bristol, May 2022
This piece alongside the Bristol Royal Infirmary is just so right for the space. These fairly utilitarian concrete steps with perfunctory planting in the flowerbeds has been completely transformed with Farrah’s beautiful and calming artwork.
Farrah, Bristol Royal Infirmary steps, Bristol, May 2022
Each of the stages along the steps has a long wall that Farrah has painted, but the work has spilled out onto other surfaces, including the pathway under your feet. The whole thing is an immersive experience and tiny little adventure to take your mind away from the urban jungle surrounding you.
Farrah, Bristol Royal Infirmary steps, Bristol, May 2022
An additional feature are the little details that Farrah has included at different points around the mural such as a damselfly, butterfly, hedgehog and frog. This is a superb piece that demonstrates so clearly how urban art can be uplifting and improve an area immeasurably. Bravo!
Farrah, Bristol Royal Infirmary steps, Bristol, May 2022
I am told you make your own luck, but I am not so sure, sometimes you just get lucky, and my chance encounter with SkyHigh and Roo down at Cumberland Basin while walking the dog a couple of weeks back, was a real lucky bonus.
SkyHigh, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2022
SkyHigh paints with an intensity and concentration that does not lend itself to chit chat, and so while he got on with the job of painting this stunner, I had a nice conversation with Roo, largely about dogs, not something I would have imagined doing four or five years ago. How curious our life pathways are.
SkyHigh, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2022
This piece from SkyHigh is an absolute jewel, with so much detail and interest in every letter. It seems that there is no limit to his talent, and it was amazing to watch him spray the folds in the letter ‘i’, to create a 3D look of paper. Each of the letters is meticulously and lovingly created to leave us with this masterpiece (not a word I use often). SkyHigh and Roo will always be very welcome visitors to Bristol.
There are some artists who never need introducing because their style is so unique, and without doubt Acer is one of those artists. Although he switches up his design concepts from time to time, they are still instantly recognisable as his work.
Acer, Greenbank, Bristol, May 2022
This playful rainbow lettering piece at Greenbank uses his current style and typeface to create the word ACER, with one small twist, literally, the piece is upside down. Clever work, once again perfectly executed.
This is a very welcome piece from Mr Underbite, who has managed to get under my skin completely, with his character pieces. This is the second time he has painted this spot, on the pathway alongside the Bristol Avon, and in doing so has made a bit of a claim on this little wall.
Mr Underbite, Brunel Way, Bristol, May 2022
The view referred to by the character is of the Avon Gorge and Clifton suspension bridge, which is just to the right and beyond this wall. The character has paint brushes sticking out of the top of his head, and he seems to be in the mood for painting. I am so enjoying the journey with Mr Underbite.
Natural adventures 