People / My Bristol Favourites
My Bristol Favourites: Inkie
Renowned Bristol graffiti artist Inkie is painting a huge mural on the side of the Southbank Club on Dean Lane during this weekend’s Upfest:
Inkie, whose real name is Tom Bingle, emerged out of the 1980s Bristol graffiti scene. Painting alongside 3D and Banksy, coming second in the 1989 World Street Art Championships, he was arrested as the head of 72 other writers in the UK’s largest ever graffiti bust, Operation Anderson.
He has since worked as head of design for SEGA and Xbox, and currently resides in Jade Jagger’s west London studio.
is needed now More than ever
Here are Inkie’s top-five Bristol favourites:
The Grotto at Goldney Hall
“Not many people realise this amazing place is on their doorstep. Bristol University’s Goldney Hall is usually only open to visitors once a year but definitely one to look out for. I’ve been going here since I was a kid and it and the surrounding gardens still have a magical feel. I also believe it was used to film Narnia!”
Leigh Woods
“Nothing beats a good walk in Leigh Woods and visit to the Iron Age hill fort. The views back over Bristol and the Suspension Bridge are to die for. You can also walk down the valley and along to Pill if it takes your fancy. No other city has a forest like this right on its doorstep. I used to live in a cottage in the middle of the woods for a while. It was a pretty tricky walk back home but worth it for the moonlight moth collectors!”
Bristol Museum
“Ever since I first visited Bristol Museum as a kid I still find new things to interest me every time I go. I particularly like some of the more moth-eaten Victorian displays with the dead flies in, and the art collection upstairs is incredible.”
Stanton Drew
“Stanton Drew is little-known formation of three stone circles is on an avenue just south of the city and without the tourists. The local churchyard has a guy buried sat upright on a chair holding a glass of port inside a pyramid shaped grave I believe, and the village pub’s not bad either.”
Warleigh Weir
“Not technically in Bristol, but nothing compares to cooling off with a swim here and a picnic on a hot summer’s day.”
Read more: Art or vandalism?