An artist from Bristol who has drawn more than 30 of the city’s pubs is planning to create a book featuring his work.
Frank Morris, 30, was first inspired to draw what he calls “one of the best things about this country” after being struck by the “beautiful” architecture of his local pub in Kentish Town, north-west London.
Morris drew around 19 pubs in the capital, before moving to the Easton area of Bristol roughly two years ago.
The artist has since drawn a number of establishments in the city, including The Golden Guinea, The Old Bookshop and The Cornubia.
“What I loved after drawing the first pub was speaking to all the passers-by who were interested in the drawing and were telling me things about the pub and that gave me the buss and motivation to find more pubs and continue drawing them,” Frank said.
“I’ve been in Bristol for just over two years now and you think you’ve found all your favourite pubs and then you realise around the corner, tucked away, there’s another amazing pub you haven’t discovered yet.
Frank said his drawing process takes “anywhere between five and ten hours” but can often take longer if it rains, or unexpected things happen – such as a van parking in front of his subject of choice.
Describing drawing pubs as a “fun way to discover the city” – Frank says he regularly gets the opportunity to add personal touches to his drawings.
“I’ve got to work on some really lovely commissions over the last few years,” he said.
“Quite a common one is first date spots and I offer to, if they want, in a subtle way, to add them in the drawing.
“They’ll send me photos of them and then maybe hidden through a window I’ll add their silhouette, which has been really sweet.
“Recently, I also drew The Cornubia and I met the landlord Jackie as she was leaving and she loved the drawing as I got her dog in it.”
Frank said he has noticed some differences between the pubs he has illustrated in London and Bristol.
“Bristol has a really big graffiti culture, so it’s not uncommon for pubs to be covered in amazing murals, which I think is really special and adds to the character of this city,” he said.
“London has a lot of really old Victorian pubs or brickwork.”
Frank believes his work champions the importance of pubs, at a time when the pub industry is facing a lot of changes and upheaval.
“When you’re drawing the pubs and speaking with passers-by and bar staff, it really highlights how important pubs are to local communities,” he said.
“I think around 400 pubs in England and Wales closed in 2024 due to things like the cost-of-living crisis and Covid, and my project is all about celebrating pubs and how we should cherish them while they’re here as I’ve drawn a few pubs which have now sadly closed.
“Like a lot of people, I love pubs – I think they’re probably one of the best things about this country.
“They’re like small microcosms with their own little quirks and there’s so much history in each pub you go to.”