Over the years I keep returning time and time again to see what the latest street art is painted at the Custard Factory in Digbeth. You can now get on via the gate at Floodgate Street and walk over the footbridge that crosses the River Rea. Then under the Bordesley Viaduct through the car park towards Gibb Street. Every month the giant billboard art changes. From City of Colours to Hi Viz.

View feature View community

The changing face of street art over the years at the Custard Factory


The changing face of street art over the years at the Custard Factory


Over the years I keep returning time and time again to see what the latest street art is painted at the Custard Factory in Digbeth. You can now get on via the gate at Floodgate Street and walk over the footbridge that crosses the River Rea. Then under the Bordesley Viaduct through the car park towards Gibb Street. Every month the giant billboard art changes. From City of Colours to Hi Viz.


Ever changing, the street art always gets painted over. So while the art is gone, the photo of it survives years later.

2013

This view taken on Floodgate Street in Digbeth during Feburary 2013. The Bordesley Viaduct seen crossing from Bordesley towards Birmingham Moor Street Station.

dndimg alt="Custard Factory" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Custard Factory street art 2013 (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

This view taken in July 2013 in what is now the Zellig Car Park. Looks like a pirate!

dndimg alt="Custard Factory" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Custard Factory street art 2013 (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The Custard Factory chimney in November 2013 painted for Movember by Graffiti 4 Hire. It is still there now (yet to be painted over). You can see it from the Zellig Car Park or from High Street Deritend.

dndimg alt="Custard Factory" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Custard Factory street art 2013 (3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

2014

King Kong painted in yellow was outside of The Old Bank on Gibb Street during July 2014. When Adee Phelan opened a salon here. Previously this was Turners Violins. The Clean Kilo is now in this building.

dndimg alt="Custard Factory" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Custard Factory street art 2014 (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

From the gates on Floodgate Street. This is an alternate entrance to the Custard Factory. Heading under the Bordesley Viaduct. This view taken during August 2014. Cross the footbridge over the River Rea and cross into the car park for the short walk to Gibb Street.

dndimg alt="Custard Factory" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Custard Factory street art 2014 (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

In October 2014 to check out the wonderful street art painted at the City of Colours Festival during September 2014. The artist was Jimmy C.

dndimg alt="Custard Factory" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Custard Factory street art 2014 (3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

2015

This piece taken on Floodgate Street during January 2015. The artist was Gent. Several skeletons here.

dndimg alt="Custard Factory" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Custard Factory street art 2015 (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Garfield seen on Floodgate Street during March 2015. Although I previously got a photo of this one in October 2014. The gates to the Custard Factory was closed. This was on the day of the St Patrick's Day Parade 2015.

dndimg alt="Custard Factory" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Custard Factory street art 2015 (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Birmingham Centre of the Universe. Seen during October 2015. The man at the top is Benjamin Zephaniah. On the left is Felicity Jones (who would go on to star in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story in 2016). This wall regularly gets repainted, usually with giant painted posters adversing something.

dndimg alt="Custard Factory" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Custard Factory street art 2015 (3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

2016

The view during April 2016 on Floodgate Street and saw this amazing piece. Not sure of the artist or artists, but was quite close to the Bordesley Viaduct.

dndimg alt="Custard Factory" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Custard Factory street art 2016 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The City of Colours Street Art Festival was held again in Digbeth, this time during June 2016. This piece being painted on the wall on Gibb Street. Car park entrance to the right under the Bordesley Viaduct. These artists are amazing. I think it's by Justin Sola (but I'm not fully sure).

dndimg alt="Custard Factory" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Custard Factory street art 2016 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Painted gates on Floodgate Street under the Bordesley Viaduct. This entrance to the Custard Factory was closed. Seen in December 2016. This Must Be the Place painted by Caroline Roose. Probably done at the Summer 2016 City of Colours Festival. It was Boxing Day, so the Custard Factory was probably closed.

dndimg alt="Custard Factory" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Custard Factory street art 2016 (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

2017

This was seen during February 2017. The bottom of the Moonlight street art painted movie poster. It won the Oscar for Best Picture at the 2017 Academy Awards. I've not seen this film myself.

dndimg alt="Custard Factory" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Custard Factory street art 2017 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Temporary hoardings at the Zellig entrance of Devonshire House. Merry Christmas from Zellig seen in December 2017. Nice image of a snowman.

dndimg alt="Custard Factory" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Custard Factory street art 2017 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Blade of the Immortal also seen in December 2017 (same day as above). In the Zellig courtyard area.

dndimg alt="Custard Factory" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Custard Factory street art 2017 (3) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

2018

The steps from Heath Mill Lane during the snow of March 2018. The walls were very pink down here.

dndimg alt="Custard Factory" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Custard Factory street art 2018 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Crossing the River Rea footbridge under the Bordesley Viaduct during April 2018. And I saw this wall painting of a lady with sunglasses. Possibly a piece by Justin Sola (or someone else).

dndimg alt="Custard Factory" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Custard Factory street art 2018 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

On Gibb Street in July 2018 under the Bordesley Viaduct. "The Bohemian from Balsall Heath". Painted for Odeon Cinemas. The man is probably Odeon founder Oscar Deutsch. R2D2 from the Star Wars movies was played by the late great Kenny Baker. Felicity Jones by now a star thanks to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The Beatles probably performed in Birmingham in the 1960s.

dndimg alt="Custard Factory" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Custard Factory street art 2018 (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

2019

Under the Bordesley Viaduct from Floodgate Street during March 2019. The gates to the Custard Factory were open. "Diablo" by Gent 48.

dndimg alt="Custard Factory" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Custard Factory street art 2019 (1A).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Peaky Blinders returned to BBC One in August 2019 with Series 5. And this piece of Tommy Shelby was on the painted billboard wall at the time. Peakys Fan Art by James Mundy.

dndimg alt="Custard Factory" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Custard Factory Peaky Blinders Tommy Shelby fan art.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Judge Dredd in the Zellig Car Park during October 2019. It was probably painted during the High Viz Street Art Festival, which took place during early September 2019. Saw this during Birmingham Weekender, but I was more interested in the street art.

dndimg alt="Custard Factory" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Custard Factory street art 2019 (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.