Queen's Diamond Jubilee

Graffiti festival celebrates the Diamond Jubilee

graffiti artist painting Queen
This portrait of the Queen is taking shape in Bedminster in Bristol. It may end up looking a little less flattering! Photo: ITV West

It's described as Europe's biggest urban paint festival and it's back in Bristol for its fifth successive year. Upfest brings together hundreds of street artists who, over the course of the Bank Holiday weekend will be transforming North Street in Bedminster. Some of the artists require scaffolding and cherry pickers to bring their ideas to life.

graffiti artist painting the side of a building
This building in North Street is being transformed thanks to a talented artist and his spray paints Credit: ITV West
graffiti artists painting Tobacco Factory
Cherry pickers had to be brought in for the artists to add to their creations on the side of the Tobacco Factory Credit: ITV West

Many of the artists normally operate clandestinely but this weekend they are out in the open without fear of retribution. The festival is not just about them showing off their stuff, they are also showing off their skills to the many festival goers.

This year the influence of the Diamond Jubilee is very evident, although with an "Upfest" spin on it.

Upfest is a way of promoting street art and educating people on how it's done. It's a bit different from walking into a gallery and seeing a finished piece of work, you can see how the process works which is why over the course of this weekend we've got 250 artists doing that. They are predominantly street artists who usually have a different take on the Queen and on the Jubilee.

– Stephen Hayles, Upfest founder
royal graffiti
Some of the Jubilee artwork has an "alternative" feel Credit: ITV West

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