6246. Ashton Avenue.

Mote, Ashton Avenue, Bristol, July 2024
Mote, Ashton Avenue, Bristol, July 2024

I took a slightly longer walk away from Brunel Way a few weeks back on a very warm summer’s afternoon. Ashton Avenue (I think that is what it is called) is part of the Metrobus route that joins north and south Bristol without getting clogged up on the main thoroughfares, and is a sleepy track, except for the occasional bus trundling past. The route is peppered with utility boxes, some of which have been decorated by the unstoppable duo, Mote and Mr Crawls. Here are some of them.

Mote, Ashton Avenue, Bristol, July 2024
Mote, Ashton Avenue, Bristol, July 2024

I really need to update Mote’s gallery, and I still haven’t actually created one for Mr Crawls yet, which would seem to be something of an oversight. (Note to self – post a Mr Crawls gallery soon). Both artists have been using chrome backgrounds, which I think is a really effective way of framing their character pieces.

Mr Crawls, Ashton Avenue, Bristol, July 2024
Mr Crawls, Ashton Avenue, Bristol, July 2024

These examples really highlight the differences between the artists’ styles, but also the similarities, where a certain amount of cross-influencing has been at work. Mr Crawls has produced several versions of this character wearing some kind of hat, and indeed, hats seem to be quite an important feature in his work.

Mr Crawls, Ashton Avenue, Bristol, July 2024
Mr Crawls, Ashton Avenue, Bristol, July 2024

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get to a couple of these pieces before the taggers got to them, but the other two are nice and clean. Here again, Mr Crawls’ character is wearing a hat. His work, in particular, has transitioned quite a lot from when he broke onto the Bristol scene with his gulls, parrots and other birds.

Well worth the extra walk.

5964. Brunel Way (268)

Mr Crawls, Brunel Way, Bristol, March 2024
Mr Crawls, Brunel Way, Bristol, March 2024

Everything about this piece by Mr Crawls is good. Utility box painting, in my view is providing a public service, and indeed in some countries is actively promoted, to turn these utilitarian metal monstrosities into something attractive and a talking point. This artwork is of course illegal and considered subversive, and yet what joy it brings.

Mr Crawls, Brunel Way, Bristol, March 2024
Mr Crawls, Brunel Way, Bristol, March 2024

Mr Crawls has been using chrome backgrounds a lot lately and it works especially well here, providing a neutral backdrop to a stunning red and grey bird character piece. I think that the way this has come together and the location contribute towards making it my favourite piece by the artist so far (I think).

5892. Cumberland Basin

Mote and Mr Crawls, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2024
Mote and Mr Crawls, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2024

It looks like the dynamic duo, Mr Crawls and Mote, are going to keep us entertained for some time to come, as their collaborations keep popping up all around the city, and as they paint more often together, they appear to be bouncing ideas off one another to bring about some convergent evolution of styles.

Mote, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2024
Mote, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2024

In these two utility box pieces, the artists have retreated a little back to their original identities, and the discrete nature of the boxes lend themselves to this separation. Mote has painted one of his friendly monster faces on a chrome background (the pair’s background of choice it seems) in his favoured pastel shades. Boldness juxtaposed with modesty – a good look.

Mr Crawls, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2024
Mr Crawls, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2024

On the adjacent utility box, Mr Crawls has seized the opportunity to paint one of his birds, I think this one is an eagle wearing a bucket/pork pie hat. Both pieces have omitted pupils in the eyes, leaving the characters with a bit of a ghostly or ambiguous expression, a deliberate move to leave the viewer a little unsettled perhaps? Great stuff from this pair.

4511. Porto (3)

While there is a full spectrum of street art and graffiti in Porto, from high-end worldies to tags and burners, there seems to be a particular acceptance of using street art to decorate utility boxes in many parts of the old city. An artist who has taken full advantage of this is Oaktree, who paints delightful scenes with brushes either directly onto the surface or as wheatpastes.

Oaktree, Porto, Portugal, June 2022
Oaktree, Porto, Portugal, June 2022

There is something beautiful and nurturing about Oaktree’s designs that fit the spaces expertly and add a touch of colour to the streets, enhancing the visual amenity of the utility boxes in a way that is commensurate with Porto’s highly decorative streets.

Oaktree, Porto, Portugal, June 2022
Oaktree, Porto, Portugal, June 2022

Oaktree’s pieces contain characters going about their everyday business or joined in an embrace and whatever they are doing there is a feeling of care, love and kindness that pervades each piece.

Oaktree, Porto, Portugal, June 2022
Oaktree, Porto, Portugal, June 2022

I was a little surprised when I got back hoe just how many Oaktree pieces I had photographed, and rather than post each one separately, I thought it would be a good idea to post this mini-gallery instead.

Oaktree, Porto, Portugal, June 2022
Oaktree, Porto, Portugal, June 2022

How great it would be if all local authorities around the world were as enlightened as Porto’s, and permitted or even encouraged the decoration of utility boxes, which, let’s face it, are among the ugliest structures known to man.

Oaktree, Porto, Portugal, June 2022
Oaktree, Porto, Portugal, June 2022

The final piece in this collection is a large wheatpaste, and perhaps my favourite of all the Oaktree pieces I saw, with its simple, rather dreamy design. If you are lucky enough to visit Porto, be sure to search out these little gems.