UPFEST painting mural on Bristol double decker bus

It will be the festival's first ever moving artwork

UPFEST sees street artists paint murals on buildings across Bedminster in Bristol
Author: Amy WoodwardPublished 1st May 2024

A Bristol double decker bus is being spray painted with street art to promote popular festival UPFEST.

First Bus in partnership with the organisers will be showcasing artwork from one of Bristol’s legendary street artists Cheo. The design will feature the most iconic landmarks from across Bristol and the West of England using Cheo's signature cartoon style.

Event organisers say partnering with First Bus is a great way for UPFEST to bring the festival to the community and brighten up Bristol’s bus routes.

The festival itself is planned for 17th May to 2nd June.

Sarah Wallbridge, Senior Marketing Manager for First Bus Wales and West, said: “We’re really excited to be bringing Europe’s largest street art event literally to the streets of Bristol for its first ever mobile piece of artwork”.

“It has been amazing to watch Cheo at work with his spray cans to transform this blank canvas into one of our most detailed and impressive bus designs to date.”

Stephan Hayles co-founder of UPFEST said “It’s important to us that we put on the best event that we possibly can, and First Bus, along with Arts Council England and the community donations, has allowed us to do that.”

First bus is providing the artists with free bus passes whilst they are painting in Bedminster.

The bus officially launches on 13 May and is certain get double takes. People are being encouraged to take pictures with the bus and post them on social media using the hashtag #UPFIRST to show their sightings of the Cheo double decker.

After the festival ends the bus will remain in service for the rest of the year.

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