Creative Connections

The unique spirit of Bristol is founded on a basis of creativity, idealism and revelry. Smack bang in the middle of this most Bristolian Venn diagram are our local artists.

Our city is a bustling hub for artists, especially those just coming to prominence or experimenting with their work. In this feature, we hand-pick three Bristol-based artists whose talent is bound to make an impression on the world around them.

Libby Anderson

Haunting, surreal and oddly comforting, Libby Anderson’s work speaks to the eerie dreamscapes embedded deep within every one of us. We spoke to Libby about her process and her work in Bristol.

“I am a multimedia artist with a focus on collage and stop-motion animation living and working in St. Pauls. I work as part of the local production house Studio Curve (@studiocurve_), and as a visual artist and creative director of photoshoots and short films. Over the last four years, I have developed a technique that incorporates hand-cut compositions from my own photography, vintage books, and magazines. These are then glitched and distorted manually during the scanning process- taking advantage of the liminal space between analog and digital technology, and are highly improvisational in nature.

My art draws upon my studies in archaeology, folk practices and esoteric traditions: reimagining the sites, objects and stories of antiquity in surreal dreamscapes, making the strange familiar and the familiar strange.”

Libby regularly runs collage workshops in the crypt of the ethereal Mount Without: check out her Instagram or www.yuup.co to find out more.

Instagram: @libbyandercollage
Website: studiocurve.uk/libbyanderson

Evie Spicer

I came across Evie Spicer’s work at Silver & Steel in Bedminster, where she is a resident artist. Evie is a photographic artist and silversmith who uses her body as a tool to interact with space, working at the intersections of self-portraiture, landscape and performance. Her work is deeply inspired by the landscape and the power it holds over us, rendering us vulnerable, for better or for worse.

‘Embedded’ is an introspective, dreamlike series shaped by Celtic mythology and the narrative of the woman as protector of the land. It exists within both manmade and natural landscapes, spaces upon which we have imprinted, and which imprint on us in return. Using her body as an interactive tool, she delves into the emotive potential of the land. The power dynamics between human and nature, viewer and viewed, are continuously explored through this sequence.

Take a look at Evie’s work below.

Instagram: @eviespicerphoto
Website: eviespicer.com

Jacob Wiggans

I first met Jacob as a UWE student at our Creative Connections networking event (the namesake and inspiration for this feature). Jacob is a true creative, and he will often be sketching mid-conversation; his work is firmly placed in the world around him, and to study his work is to see through his eyes. His work has been described as raw, human, prolific, primal, and empathetic, and spans visual journalism, editorial art, poetry, and events.

In addition to his work as a professional illustrator, Jacob’s focus has recently shifted to community projects, collaborating with Studio 6ix, refugees, and local charities. Jacob also founded the BOUND Illustrator zine in 2024 and runs arts events in Bristol. “My current project, “The Stages of a ‘COO!’,” is a theatrical picture book about self-discovery. I enjoy working with bands, doing event drawing, and creating tactile, narrative-driven art that combines word and image.”

Check out Jacob’s work below.

Instagram: @wigg.owt.