Sheffield is a bustling city with a vibrant cultural scene, boasting an eclectic range of stars from Jarvis Cocker of Pulp to the playwright Jack Rosenthal. It also has a thriving street art scene, with many characterful creations on display around the city. You’ll find art in the most unexpected places, from shuttered up shops to the sides of apartment buildings.
Here’s a quick look at just a few of the city’s street art landmarks.
Pete McKee’s The Snog
Pete Mckee is a native son of Sheffield and his artwork pays tribute to his northern roots, with quirky and lightly observational scenes of everyday life. One of his best loved murals is The Snog, which features an elderly couple, Frank and Joy, locked in a kissing embrace. For the past 10 years, the mural has adorned the side of Fagan’s pub near the city centre.
BBC News reports that the mural has been temporarily removed, but will shortly be repainted to freshen it up. It’s a popular photo backdrop for lovers and newlyweds.
Bubba 2000
Bubba 2000 is a street artist with an edgier approach to Sheffield life, often making social or cultural commentary with his artwork in the style of Banksy. During the pandemic his work paid homage to the frontline workers of the city, and other pieces lightly mock big native stars such as Alex Turner of the Arctic Monkeys who now live elsewhere.
Affix
Affix, aka Phil Padfield, produces beautiful images of nature and wildlife in unexpected corners of the city. Last year, he painted the 125 metre long flood wall of the Ickes Lock Flood Alleviation Scheme for the Sheffield-Rotherham Canal with images of dragonflies set against a blue backdrop.
