Although the style and composition are familiar from Mr Draws in this piece in Dean Lane, the words are rather refreshing and different. Italian, the language of love, is just so good to listen to, and who can say the phrase ‘Bella Ciao’ or more commonly ‘Ciao Bella’ without doing so in a charming Italian accent?
Mr Draws, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2025
The colour scheme is a curious one, especially as the top horizontal slice matches the background dark tone. Typically unpretentious and unfussy, this is a a nice piece from Mr Draws that occupies this long space rather well.
The Prince of Wales is my local pub, although broadly speaking I don’t go to the pub very often these days. For as long as I can remember, there has always been a mural on the pub, which changes every few years. This most recent incarnation is by the wonderful Hazard.
Hazard, Cheltenham Road, Bristol, May 2025
Hazard, Harriet Wood, used to live in Bristol and has featured on the pages of Natural Adventures many times. She has been elevated to superstar status, which is totally deserved, and paints a lot of commissions around the country. This piece is a wonderful nature scene – utterly uplifting in the bustle of the Cheltenham Road.
Hazard, Cheltenham Road, Bristol, May 2025
Floral scenes are a speciality in Hazard’s repertoire, but the eye is immediately drawn to the outstanding hummingbird in the centre of the mural. This is a truly stunning piece, showcasing Hazard’s awesome talent. Oh, and by the way, there is a secret beer patio round the back.
I’m beginning to regret ever having said that, unlike other street art hubs in the country, Bristol is rather light on paste ups. Ever since I first made that comment, I seem to have found wheatpastes all over the place. Whether I am just seeing more because I am looking more or whether there has been an influx, I cannot say, either way, it is good news.
Mauro Goblin, Stokes Croft, Bristol, May 2025
This is a stunning portrait piece by Mauro Goblin, an artist I believe from Valparaiso, Chile, featuring Beth Gibbons from local band Portishead. The stencil piece is sprayed on to paper which is then pasted up, hence the sharp edge around the portrait. A little bit of orange spray paint behind the piece significantly adds to the impact. What a privilege to have this piece in Bristol.
Doors 310 – Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, September 2023
This week I am taking you to a sleepy Lincolnshire town, once a celebrated seaside destination, but now a faded Victorian haunt where poverty and deprivation is intermingled with former prosperity.
I was lucky enough to visit Cleethorpes in September 2023 for the launch of the first of 25 new National Nature Reserves (NNR) being declared over a period of five years called the King’s Series in celebration of King Charles III coming to the throne. These National Nature Reserves are bigger, better and more joined up, allowing nature to overspill into surrounding areas. This first one (the Lincolnshire Coronation Coast NNR) spans a long stretch of the Lincolnshire coast adjacent to urban areas, providing opportunities for people to easily connect with nature on their own doorstep. It incorporated some already well established nature reserves, such as Donna Nook, famous for its seals.
While I was stopping over, I managed to get a long walk under my belt and snapped a few doors, which is pretty much my modus operandi wherever I go these days. I hope you enjoy these doors, and of course the mandatory English Victorian seaside town pier.
Cleethorpes Pier, Cleethorpes, England, September 2023
Victoria Hotel Garage doors, Cleethorpes, England, September 2023
Door and fine doorway to the re-purposed Cleethorpes Post Office, Cleethorpes, England, September 2023
Rather forlorn Beach Nightclub doors, Cleethorpes, England, September 2023
Pub door with a wonderful Tetley’s lamp, Cleethorpes, England, September 2023
Abdul’s wonderfully themed restaurant door, Cleethorpes, England, September 2023
Classic seaside town door and house frontage, Cleethorpes, England, September 2023
A nice pair of red doors, Cleethorpes, England, September 2023
Superb blue door and Victorian gable fronted porch, Cleethorpes, England, September 2023
The Mermaid fish and chips restaurant, Cleethorpes, England, September 2023
Doorway into the Mermaid fish and chips restaurant, Cleethorpes, England, September 2023
Classic seaside town beachfront food stall, shuttered up, Cleethorpes, England, September 2023
Before I went to Cleethorpes, my expectations were quite low, generally it is considered to be an ‘eyebrow raising’ moment when you tell anyone you are going to Cleethorpes, but I have to say I rather fell in love with the place. The coastline with its marshes is spectacular, the seafront shops and guest houses, and there is something rather wistful about the place.
I’m not sure where I’m going for Thursday doors next time – it’ll have to be a surprise.
If you have made it this far, you probably like doors, and you really ought to take a look at the No Facilities blog by Dan Anton who has taken over the hosting of Thursday Doors from Norm 2.0 blog. Links to more doorscursions can be found in the comments section of Dan Anton’s Thursday Doors post.
Hypo continues in his rich vein of form and is working his colours really hard at the moment, but not in a chaotic or random way, but rather in a considered and thoughtful manifestation.
Hypo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, May 2025
Each of the letters HYPO are given an individual colour scheme with blended tones beautifully worked. The letters are afforded a chunky 3D effect, thanks to the skilfully placed white highlight lines that deceive our eyes. Another fabulous piece in an outstanding and lengthy series of graffiti writing.
This was a most wonderful surprise as I headed towards Leeds Station to catch a train back to Bristol. When I arrived, I had left the station from another exit and so hadn’t spotted this enormous and rather famous piece by Nomad Clan. It is quite difficult to give a sense of scale, but the mural spans several floors on the side of the building.
Nomad Clan, New Station Street, Leeds, May 2025
Photographing this piece is near impossible, and definitely one for those with drone cameras. Owls are a symbol of Leeds and appear on the city’s coat of arms, and can be found all over the centre. These greyscale owls are obviously in recognition of this and beautifully painted against a full moon and a lightbulb. One of the owls also has a crown – it’s a graffiti writing thing, which gives this high-end piece a bit of street credibility too. Like I said at the start, simply wonderful departing gift from the home city of my late father and his family.
It is totally awesome to see Subtle again after quite a long break. His work, for me, epitomises the Bristol style of graffiti writing. I have mentioned that different towns and cities, regions or countries have distinct styles, and this piece by Subtle oozes Bristol.
Subtle, M32 roundabout, Bristol, May 2025
The piece itself is painted in rather dark colours and a little difficult to pick out with the light behind the wall. Great big fat letters on a buffed wall with a dollop of red decoration is just what the doctor ordered, and a great way to start the day. Classy and beautifully executed. Welcome back Subtle.
Natural adventures 