Whilst walking the colourful streets of Brighton, you may have noticed art pieces around on top of shops, on spare spaces of the wall, or in alleys between buildings. If you have the time, wander down Trafalgar Lane, Kings Place or Gloucester Road, where you’ll see art by SNUB23, whose art often features robots using “the streets [as his] gallery” (SNUB23, 2025). Molar, with iconic teeth (hence the name) and anatomy-themed art, Sinna One and SPRITE, further add to the vivid and colourful displays of art that make Brighton, well, Brighton.
As someone who gets distracted by almost every little thing, I find myself admiring the street art and art stickers around town. I was lucky enough to meet CORKiE, aka @cordeiius, at an art market, whose colourful hand-drawn stickers, made from old stickers like postage labels, are easily spotted around. CORKiE, an illustrator by profession, often creates these stickers during breaks from work. He describes his street art as being inspired by the fact that “Brighton is pretty special to [him]”. Starting when he was 14, he found it was his way to “enjoy the city and [be] a part of it”.
If you notice the artist tags, including Cassette Lord, Glimmer Twin, and Mick Mowgli, all also vibrant street artists who add to Brighton’s colourful atmosphere, you’ll see a personal favourite of mine: Sinna One’s badger mural on Trafalgar Lane.
SNUB23, whose robots are another one of my favourite things to see, is an Essex-born street artist based in Brighton since the late ‘90s. Talking to SNUB23, I learnt that the robot, named Mongrel, originates from the comic 2000 AD, and is a protector figure commonplace in his art and painted in murals around the world. A graphic designer by trade, SNUB23 describes navigating the beginnings of the digital age; “for me, street art was kind of a punk era, so when it really kicked off in the early 2000s, when you could make a thing at home and then put it on the street, … you didn’t need to go to a gallery and ask them to sell your work …”
Talking about the inspiration for his art and what the street art means to him, he explained how the tag name, SNUB23, originated from the word ‘snub’, “trying to ignore the rules that they set up to make things to make people money – like billboards and branding”. “An idea coming into reality is the magic for [him]”, with the idea of being able to “keep true to what you believe as an artist”, adhering to “the main purpose of art as an artist, the hope that someone understands what you’re producing, that they get your message”, yet “not pandering to what people want, you’re doing what you like”.
Despite the current Brightonian law that illegalises painting without a permit, “in Brighton there’s probably a handful you know, probably like 10 active artists”, SNUB23 emphasises the strong community of street artists, and often paints with others, both local and international. He and fellow artists also partake in and host various paint jams in and out of the UK.
Furthermore, while talking to CORKiE, he recommended a good way to get involved in the local art community is to keep an eye out for local art markets, often on the weekends at Jubilee Square, or he himself hosts sticker-making workshops once a month. The Brighton Youth Centre, located on Gloucester Road, also occasionally hosts art markets for various local and non-local artists aged 16-25. Jubilee Square is also home to makers and crafts markets. In lieu of being more involved in the local art community, beyond visiting markets and supporting local artists, I was also introduced to an online community that shares art market opportunities while connecting artists around the UK.
However, this is simply the tip of the iceberg of the local street art scene. Whether you’re mooching down the Laines or exploring the many side streets, spotting local street art is always an enjoyable experience. Getting to know the artists and their art is another way to better know Brighton, with SNUB23 eloquently stating that it is “on the street for everyone”, and by doing so, “not saying these streets are ours, we’re saying these streets are yours”, inherently makes living here ever more unique.
Another article you may enjoy: https://thebadgeronline.com/2025/08/beacon-mill-a-tribute-to-your-local-windmill/
