Brian ‘Elph’ McFeely
Born: September 12, 1977;
Died: May 20, 2026
Brian McFeely, the renowned street artist and illustrator known to many as Elph, has died aged 48.
Tributes to the relentlessly creative, hugely influential mural painter have appeared around the world following his sudden death last month. His murals and drawings can be seen all over his home city of Edinburgh with many works elsewhere in Scotland and internationally. He inspired artists, skaters, musicians and friends, who all recognised in him an incredible natural talent and desire to share his love of art. He was asked to make works for art galleries, bars and outdoor public spaces and became legendary for helping to shift the perception of graffiti away from vandalism towards an inclusive, accessible, joyful artform.
His final mural was a large permanent work on a gable end in Næstved, Denmark, which he finished in April. He’d been invited back after painting at group paint jams and the community liked how warm and friendly he’d been with locals and youth workers, as well as other artists.
Brian had been active in the graffiti scene for over 30 years, constantly evolving his artistic style and working in animation, projections, video game design, logos, flyers, typography and screenprinting throughout his career. Amongst the tributes, friends and colleagues spoke of his versatile, effortless talent and gentle nature. He was described by many as humble, caring, kind and funny. Many artists shared how supportive he had been at the early stages of their artistic lives, giving them the nudge they needed to get started, encouraging them to get over creative blocks and express themselves, no matter their experience.
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John Brian McFeely was born on September 12, 1977 to parents Kate and Brian. Brian and his younger sister Paula grew up in Drylaw, Edinburgh and attended Holy Cross Primary. McFeely spent summers cycling to Cramond Island and swimming in the River Almond. Friends remember he always carried a sketchbook and pens in his bag. He started off copying Garfield cartoons then Lord of the Rings characters before developing his own style. He was given a graffiti book for his 12th birthday, and around that age was gaining a reputation for his art. Brian enjoyed his time at St Thomas’s High School where he had encouragement from the art teacher, Mr Bonnar.
Brian began tagging around Drylaw and Morningside, painting murals on abandoned railway tunnels at the age of 14. He went to paint jams in Livingston and would later travel around the UK, Northern Ireland, Norway, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany and America to exhibit his work and take part in group projects. He once said, “Graffiti comes about from boredom. It’s a way of showing you exist. When you’re 11 or 12, you don’t really have a voice, so spraying your nickname somewhere is a way of leaving your mark.”
In the mid-90s, as a young teenager, Brian joined the Many Styles Crew, an Edinburgh collective of other graffiti artists. Brian and friends approached the city council to ask for permission to paint in abandoned tunnels, some covered in racist slogans. The council agreed. Brian went on to work with Police Scotland, getting involved in community art projects and helping young people make their mark in a way that wouldn’t lead to them being penalised. Street art is now a much photographed global phenomenon, thanks in part to passionate pioneers like Brian McFeely.
Among his many community and social projects, Brian worked with North Edinburgh Arts in Muirhouse, Lothian Cat Rescue and a project to brighten the city during tram construction works. His small mural ‘The Fairy Boy of Leith’ on Leith Walk was inspired by a 17th century folk tales of a young child believed to have second sight, who would commune with elves on Calton Hill by night. Brian continued to make long ‘joiner’ pieces beside the Newhaven tram tracks up until very recently with Many Style Crew members.
Brian loved music and art; he was a fan of American funk, soul and hip hop, Japanese manga and trashy films from the 1980s. He loved cartoonists and comic book illustrators such as Paul Pope or Ashley Wood, as well as painters including Basquiat, Picasso and Peter Howson. Brian’s distinct work is characterised by a combination of styles and techniques, colourfully blending the raw energy of graffiti with refined painting and detailed drawing techniques.
On a night-out dancing at Cabaret Voltaire in 1999, Brian met the love of his life, Helen. They enjoyed travels to Japan and tiki parties at their Leopold Place flat. They married in a drive-through ceremony at the Little White Chapel in Las Vegas, and their son Finn was born in 2007. Brian was a devoted husband and father, often painting his wife and son’s name in artworks. He collaborated with his son on art activities from an early age, and the house quickly filled with drawings. He was hugely proud of his son’s emerging career in dance.
It was a common sight seeing Brian walking home from the Drylaw tunnels with a ladder on his shoulders after a long day painting with friends or sometimes on his own. He would happily paint in all weathers, dressed in a neon boilersuit or hoodie and hard hat, perched on a cherry picker. Described often as having a tiny ego, his heart was huge. Artistic tributes have appeared around the world since Brian’s death, with painted memorials as far as Adelaide, or on top of Arthur’s Seat. He leaves behind a remarkable legacy. “Rest in peace, power and paint”, wrote one friend.
CLAIRE SAWERS
At The Herald, we carry obituaries of notable people from the worlds of business, politics, arts and sport but sometimes we miss people who have led extraordinary lives. That's where you come in. If you know someone who deserves an obituary, please consider telling us about their lives. Contact garry.scott@heraldandtimes.co.uk
