People / My Bristol Favourites
My Bristol Favourites: Zoe Griffiths
Zoe Griffiths, aka Zoe Pencils, is a graphic artist who began her career painting, drawing and illustrating, and now spends more time making comics and zines.
She is the first artist to exhibit their work on the plinth on Old Market Lawn which will see different artist displaying their work there for a few months at a time.
When not drawing a comic or stapling a zine, she works as assistant to the painter Gary Hume and is also a campaigner for safer streets, recently organising two successful Play Streets outside her son’s primary school.
is needed now More than ever
Cumberland Basin
Huge swathes of Hotwells were demolished in the 1960s for the Cumberland Basin road network – photo: Martin Booth
“Cumberland Basin is my favourite place. It’s a historical hotchpotch of muddy tidal water and the ghosts of Bristol’s former maritime industries, criss-crossed with 1960s infrastructure which demolished half of Hotwells. The backdrop to this no man’s land are the beautiful houses of Cliftonwood sloping up to the crest of the hill. High tide and low tide at sunrise or sunset are the best times to go.”
Emmeline
Emmeline cafe has a focus on nutritious, wholesome and good value food and drinks – photo: Martin Booth
“Emmeline, which is attached to Spike Island studios and gallery, is a great place to hang out and eat good food. The gigantic windows allow you to watch people come and go, many of them the creatives who work at the studios. It has a feeling of community and there’s always someone you can start an impromptu conversation with.”
Stokes Croft
Turbo Island is being sold via auction in October – photo: Martin Booth
“Stokes Croft is riotous, covered in graffiti, full of energy with so many places to eat and drink. There’s a kind of chaotic harmony here. And it’s topped off with the regular open fire at Turbo island. Where else would you get that!”
Heron Books
Heron Books is tucked away inside Clifton Arcade off Boyce’s Avenue in Clifton Village – photo: Martin Booth
“Heron Books in Clifton Arcade is a perfect example of an independent friendly bookshop. The compact space is full with the aroma of ink on paper and stacked with enticing looking book covers. In here you can dream of being the literary person you’d love to be but never quite manage to get around to.”
Severn Beach
Severn Beach was once a popular seaside resort – photo: Ed Whyman
“This is another beautiful slightly desolate landscape, similar to Cumberland Basin but more expansive. The one track train trundles there through Sea Mills out to the industrial port on the estuary. With only migrating birds for company there’s space to think. Even the Severn Bridge looks majestic as it rises out of the muddy water with cars thundering overhead.”
Main photo: Nic Wedlake
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