My Bristol Favourites: Jasmine Thompson

Jasmine Thompson is an illustrator, mural artist and designer, whose murals for the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon, Love as a Revolution, were recently recreated in the Barbican for the RSC’s London season.

Jasmine works regularly as a live sketch artist and visual journalist, is a political cartoonist, a regular workshop facilitator working with both children and adults, and is a board member for creative enterprise Rising Arts Agency.

Jasmine in front of her mural for the Royal Shakespeare Company

Here are Jasmine’s top-five Bristol favourites:

Pinkmans

“This little cafe at the top of Park Street is my friends’ and my chosen spot for a sweet treat! We’re often working down at Watershed so when we can brave the trek up Park Street we always end up here. They serve the most incredible hot chocolate I’ve had in the city, and it’s just the cosiest place to grab a quick bite and drink.”

The Bristol & Bath Railway Path

“This summer I made the venture from Bristol to Bath on bike a few times. As a relatively new (not to mention shaky) cyclist, it is so nice to get away from the busy roads and rush hour traffic and have the chance to just enjoy cycling. There are pit stops on the way to refuel and grab some snacks, and also some really lengthy stretches of path that allow you to pick up some speed and just coast through the countryside and take in the views. The journey can be done in a couple of hours, so it’s the perfect summer’s day trip.”

The Full Moon

“This is my go-to spot for drinks on a Friday night. Full Moon is in the heart of Stokes Croft, and has probably the busiest and most social outside seating area, perfect for hot days but also a lively place to go for drinks anytime of the year. The Attic is a club situated right next door, and they often open their doors to us so you can hop from bar to club with ease! This has been a regular place for my friends and I to go out since we started uni seven years ago, and even now it still does the trick.”

Watershed

“Watershed is an independent cinema that hosts a wide range of film events and festivals throughout the year. The cafe-bar is often buzzing and the Pervasive Media Studio is also situated on the other side of the building. I have seen so many incredible films here since living in Bristol. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Watershed on a variety of creative projects, but it’s also a space I really enjoy coming to with just my laptop or sketchbook, and getting on with my own illustration work.”

Eastville Park

“It was a toss up between Eastville Park and Ashton Court, but Eastville just had the edge as it’s a regular place for me to visit now I’ve moved to Easton, and I have so many great memories here. Whether I’ve been to Love Saves The Day or just come here to relax and enjoy the sun, it’s one of the many great parks in Bristol that are a stone’s throw away from the busy city life. I think Bristol is blessed for this reason; there are so many beautiful places to enjoy a walk or some greenery that don’t involve trekking for hours out of the city. I’m a regular runner too, so I love jogging around Eastville Park as it’s much more scenic than any other route I’ve been on!”