It is always most satisfying to be able to put a name to a piece of artwork. Much of what I do is detective work, trying to work out or find out who a particular piece might be, using my own knowledge of the Bristol scene, the Interweb and Instagram in particular, and conversations with artists when I meet them. This one took me a little while, but I figured out that it is by Avem808 (it is signed) who I think might be a friend of Esme Lower.
Avem808, Peel Street Green, Bristol, October 2025
This is a superb piece of graffiti writing, with a flat surface to the letters filled with an interesting blue cosmic-style scene. The letters pop a little due to the magnificent yellow (gold) 3D drop shadow with a central vanishing point. Blue and yellow work exceptionally in this piece, and the dark blue background with large bubbles also lifts the letters. An accomplished piece which triggered my memory that I had previously seen another piece by Avem808 (see tomorrow).
In the centre of town, alongside the Harbourside (a floating harbour), there is a large office building called Canons House, locally known as the Lloyds building as it was the regional headquarters of Lloyds Bank, which they sold in December 2024. The Grade II listed building (only completed in 1991) is now undergoing a major redevelopment, and you know what that means… hoardings. The shiny white hoardings are not the easiest to paint, and the area is not one much frequented by street/graffiti artists, so finding anything of interest here is unlikely. However, Sub appears to have made himself at home with a couple of pieces, and there is a massive commission by Esme Lower too (coming soon).
Sub, Monarch’s Way, Bristol, October 2025
Sub has been working hard, and is improving so much with his overall presentation. His fills have been getting a little more intricate with some nice details, and here he has created a wonderful marbled effect on the white background, making good use of the hoarding colour. I do wonder if his enormous letters might be holding him back a little – it is a lot of space to fill, and whether an additional letter, might give him more creative latitude. I’m sure he is happy with what he is doing, but I think he is ready to take a big step forward.
It has been a while since I last saw a scary clown piece, so this one from Tera is most welcome. It was painted as part of a belated birthday paint jam in the tunnel for Kool Hand, and served as a tasty precursor to Halloween. Tera’s meteoric rise as a street artist of great talent continues at pace.
Tera, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2025
This scary clown character is superbly presented within a colourful decoration, I want to say scroll, but it is more like a designed plate with interlocking parts. The clown itself is really demonic, and falls very squarely into Tera’s preference for all things satanic. Peeping over the top of the piece is another of the artist’s previous nightmarish creations, see below:
This wonderful character by Veeez, or VZA, is another one I have pulled out of my archive from earlier this year, because it is simply too good not to post. There was a time when VZA first hit the walls of Bristol that it was difficult to not stumble across one of his characters of toadstools, however, of late his pieces have become a bit of a rarity.
VZA, Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2025
This is a wonderful, bold and bright alien bug painted with strong fills in two shades and an incredibly precise thin black outline. Obviously the work of a very skilled artist and a superbly creative subject too. It is a pity he doesn’t paint all that often, although it is always worth waiting for.
Rowdy, Ryder, Taboo, Sage and Solar, Coronation Road, Bristol, January 2025
I photographed this building way back in January, but never got round to posting it. I am doing so now, because there was a large fire at the site, a former metalworks, in early October. The building ceased to be in use in 2020, and became an obvious opportunity for graffiti, and several writers from around the city duly obliged. I don’t believe that this was any kind of overall collaboration, more an accumulation of pieces over time from Rowdy, Ryder, Taboo, Sage, Solar, and one other.
Rowdy, Ryder, Taboo, Sage and Solar, Coronation Road, Bristol, January 2025
The top row (the former canteen of the building and most severely fire-damaged part – arson, by the way) is a combination collaboration from Ryder and Rowdy, both of whom are significant players on the graffiti scene in Bristol. Taboo’s dominant epic piece takes up the whole of the middle floor, and some smaller pieces from Sage, Solar (PLB) and Phase (?) occupy the ground floor. This is more of an interesting mosaic than anything else really – iconic in its own way, but now alas, ashes.
I simply cannot fathom why it has taken me so long to post this outstanding piece by Kid Krishna in Stokes Croft, painted alongside ESKA and Hemper. It has been around since April this year, and I photographed it shortly after it was painted. These pictures are more recent, and the piece is still in great condition, looking very fresh.
Kid Krishna, Stokes Croft, Bristol, October 2025
The combination piece combines his CRIE letters to the right with a group of surreal cartoon-style characters, showcasing Kid Krishna’s extraordinary talent. There is a lot of colour and movement in the piece, especially the three characters on the left who appear to be having an animated conversation.
Kid Krishna, Stokes Croft, Bristol, October 2025
Kid Krishna is something of an enigma. He is incredibly modest about his work, has unquestionable talent, paints high-end pieces and scruffy mega-tags. I think that the overriding sense I get from him and his work is the sheer love of art and creativity. Imagination and creativity are things he has in abundance, as you can see from this awesome piece.
Scrapyardspec, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2025
In the main, Scrapyardspec tends to paint his work in ‘cheeky’ spots that others might avoid, or simply not consider worth painting. His adaptable character lends itself very well to filling spaces in landscape or portrait orientation, again something that graffiti writers for example often struggle with.
Scrapyardspec, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2025
This piece is at the entrance of the tunnel and makes use of a textured wall that has plenty of plant growth spilling over it. Scrapyardspec’s goofy character, reverts to its more basic form – no limbs or hair here – and reminds us of his iconic and unique design. I have lots more pieces by the artist and might have to do mini gallery at some point just to catch up.
Sled One, Oust and Stivs Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2025
I came across this outstanding collaboration, intending to photograph its predecessor by Dibz and Fade who I had watched painting their collaboration, but as I have said, you snooze, you lose in this game and when I returned it had been painted over by this masterpiece. I think that this is probably my favourite collaboration of the year so far, oozing with talent.
Sled One, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2025
To the left, Sled One has painted one of his magnificent cartoon-style creations, heavily loaded with political commentary. The piece is reflecting the rather unsettling rise of the appropriation of the St George Cross to represent anti-immigration (and for some, racist) sentiments, purporting to be patriotism. This is another division stoked up by the right wing parties, Reform and the Conservatives, as a wedge issue from which they expect to benefit.
Anti-immigration and racist sentiments are not particularly well-supported in Bristol, and Sled One has illustrated a large shoe squashing a gammon (“gammon” is a derogatory slang term for middle-aged, often ruddy-faced, white men who are perceived as being nationalistic, anti-immigrant, and particularly supportive of Brexit) attempting to paint a St George cross on the sole of the shoe. He is being squished. If only it was that simple to moderate this rise in anti-foreigner narrative masquerading as patriotism.
Oust, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2025
The middle section of this triptych is a superbly colourful piece of graffiti writing by Oust, spelling out OUSTER. Beautiful letters, beautiful fill colours, some nice flame bursts and bubbly background. A first-class piece of writing.
Stivs, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2025
On the right is an outstanding cartoon portrait piece by Stivs, which I think is one of his best, and that is a high bar indeed. The stylised portrait draws on the Japanese anime genre and has so much movement and attitude about it. The piece is beautifully executed and looks like it could be a still from a film.
Stivs, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2025
As I said before, an outstanding collaboration. Bravo! Sled One, Oust and Stivs.
As if I didn’t have enough complimentary words for Hypo in my last post of his work, I guess I’ll be heaping on some more here, simply because his efforts at the moment are at such a high level. Hypo also seems to be at the heart of the Bristol street art scene currently, and last weekend was heavily involved in a 50th birthday celebration paint jam here in the tunnel for Minto.
Hypo, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2025
This piece, in wonderful flame colours, mirrors some of his other recent pieces, including the letter shapes and the decorative spheres. There is so much to like about this piece as his constant development continues.
Wilko and Boxi, Cheltenham Road, Bristol, October 2025
Wilko (Sgt Wilko) who hails from Birmingham has recently been rather busy in Bristol pasting up his designs all over the city, particularly in the Bedminster area, in advance of an exhibition of his work at That Art Gallery at the top of Christmas Steps from 18-23 November, with fellow wheatpaster Boxi. While I have seen Wilko’s work before (the first, middle and last pieces on this shopfront in Cheltenham Road) This is the first time, I think, that I have seen anything by Boxi (second and fourth pieces).
Wilko and Boxi, Cheltenham Road, Bristol, October 2025
Both artists appear to take some inspiration from African art, and other influences such as cubism. There is a lot more to wheatpastes than simply sticking up posters. There is the original composition, the cut-out and equally importantly the positioning of the pieces, both in terms of the location and arrangement. Wilko and Boxi have set up a nice little gallery in this instance. Their wheatpasting is not to everyone’s taste, and they have caused a bit of a stir in East Street, where some of the shop owners whose shops have been targeted are less than happy. The ‘edge’ of street art.
Natural adventures 