diff --git a/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics.cpp b/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics.cpp
index 8bdd2eb3..4d1e82bc 100644
--- a/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics.cpp
+++ b/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics.cpp
@@ -2,12 +2,9 @@
 
 namespace pimoroni {
 
-  void PicoGraphics::set_pen(uint c) {};
-  void PicoGraphics::set_pen(uint8_t r, uint8_t g, uint8_t b) {};
   int PicoGraphics::update_pen(uint8_t i, uint8_t r, uint8_t g, uint8_t b) {return -1;};
   int PicoGraphics::reset_pen(uint8_t i) {return -1;};
   int PicoGraphics::create_pen(uint8_t r, uint8_t g, uint8_t b) {return -1;};
-  void PicoGraphics::set_pixel(const Point &p) {};
   void PicoGraphics::set_pixel_dither(const Point &p, const RGB &c) {};
   void PicoGraphics::set_pixel_dither(const Point &p, const RGB565 &c) {};
   void PicoGraphics::scanline_convert(PenType type, conversion_callback_func callback) {};
@@ -74,10 +71,7 @@ namespace pimoroni {
     if(clipped.x + l >= clip.x + clip.w)  {l  = clip.x + clip.w - clipped.x;}
 
     Point dest(clipped.x, clipped.y);
-    while(l--) {
-        set_pixel(dest);
-        dest.x++;
-    }
+    set_pixel_span(dest, l);
   }
 
   void PicoGraphics::rectangle(const Rect &r) {
@@ -89,7 +83,7 @@ namespace pimoroni {
     Point dest(clipped.x, clipped.y);
     while(clipped.h--) {
       // draw span of pixels for this row
-      pixel_span(dest, clipped.w);
+      set_pixel_span(dest, clipped.w);
       // move to next scanline
       dest.y++;
     }
diff --git a/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics.hpp b/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics.hpp
index 926db4eb..0fb43837 100644
--- a/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics.hpp
+++ b/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics.hpp
@@ -437,12 +437,14 @@ namespace pimoroni {
       set_font(&font6);
     };
 
-    virtual void set_pen(uint c);
-    virtual void set_pen(uint8_t r, uint8_t g, uint8_t b);
+    virtual void set_pen(uint c) = 0;
+    virtual void set_pen(uint8_t r, uint8_t g, uint8_t b) = 0;
+    virtual void set_pixel(const Point &p) = 0;
+    virtual void set_pixel_span(const Point &p, uint l) = 0;
+
+    virtual int create_pen(uint8_t r, uint8_t g, uint8_t b);
     virtual int update_pen(uint8_t i, uint8_t r, uint8_t g, uint8_t b);
     virtual int reset_pen(uint8_t i);
-    virtual int create_pen(uint8_t r, uint8_t g, uint8_t b);
-    virtual void set_pixel(const Point &p);
     virtual void set_pixel_dither(const Point &p, const RGB &c);
     virtual void set_pixel_dither(const Point &p, const RGB565 &c);
     virtual void scanline_convert(PenType type, conversion_callback_func callback);
@@ -483,6 +485,7 @@ namespace pimoroni {
       void set_pen(uint8_t r, uint8_t g, uint8_t b) override;
 
       void set_pixel(const Point &p) override;
+      void set_pixel_span(const Point &p, uint l) override;
 
       static size_t buffer_size(uint w, uint h) {
           return w * h / 8;
@@ -511,6 +514,7 @@ namespace pimoroni {
       int reset_pen(uint8_t i) override;
 
       void set_pixel(const Point &p) override;
+      void set_pixel_span(const Point &p, uint l) override;
       void get_dither_candidates(const RGB &col, const RGB *palette, size_t len, std::array<uint8_t, 16> &candidates);
       void set_pixel_dither(const Point &p, const RGB &c) override;
 
@@ -541,6 +545,7 @@ namespace pimoroni {
       int reset_pen(uint8_t i) override;
 
       void set_pixel(const Point &p) override;
+      void set_pixel_span(const Point &p, uint l) override;
       void get_dither_candidates(const RGB &col, const RGB *palette, size_t len, std::array<uint8_t, 16> &candidates);
       void set_pixel_dither(const Point &p, const RGB &c) override;
 
@@ -559,6 +564,7 @@ namespace pimoroni {
       int create_pen(uint8_t r, uint8_t g, uint8_t b) override;
 
       void set_pixel(const Point &p) override;
+      void set_pixel_span(const Point &p, uint l) override;
       void set_pixel_dither(const Point &p, const RGB &c) override;
       void set_pixel_dither(const Point &p, const RGB565 &c) override;
 
@@ -579,6 +585,7 @@ namespace pimoroni {
       void set_pen(uint8_t r, uint8_t g, uint8_t b) override;
       int create_pen(uint8_t r, uint8_t g, uint8_t b) override;
       void set_pixel(const Point &p) override;
+      void set_pixel_span(const Point &p, uint l) override;
       static size_t buffer_size(uint w, uint h) {
         return w * h * sizeof(RGB565);
       }
diff --git a/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics_pen_1bit.cpp b/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics_pen_1bit.cpp
index af052d4b..ef0f2d0b 100644
--- a/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics_pen_1bit.cpp
+++ b/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics_pen_1bit.cpp
@@ -32,4 +32,29 @@ namespace pimoroni {
     *f |= (color << bo);
   }
 
+  void PicoGraphics_Pen1Bit::set_pixel_span(const Point &p, uint l) {
+    // pointer to byte in framebuffer that contains this pixel
+    uint8_t *buf = (uint8_t *)frame_buffer;
+    uint8_t *f = &buf[(p.x / 8) + (p.y * bounds.w / 8)];
+
+    uint bo = 7 - (p.x & 0b111);
+
+    // TODO: this could trivially be sped up by processing single bits only at 
+    // the start and the end of the span and writing full bytes (8 pixels at
+    // a time) in the middle portion of the span. would only be more efficient
+    // for longer spans (probably around 20 pixels or more)
+    while(l--) {
+      // forceably clear the bit and then set to the correct value
+      *f &= ~(1U << bo); 
+      *f |= (color << bo);
+
+      if(bo == 0) { // last bit of this byte?
+        // move to next byte in framebuffer and reset the bit offset
+        f++; bo = 8;
+      }
+
+      bo--;
+    }
+  }
+
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics_pen_p4.cpp b/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics_pen_p4.cpp
index 17bf6b6c..11fbeb99 100644
--- a/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics_pen_p4.cpp
+++ b/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics_pen_p4.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #include "pico_graphics.hpp"
 
 namespace pimoroni {
+
     PicoGraphics_PenP4::PicoGraphics_PenP4(uint16_t width, uint16_t height, void *frame_buffer)
     : PicoGraphics(width, height, frame_buffer) {
         this->pen_type = PEN_P4;
@@ -19,7 +20,7 @@ namespace pimoroni {
     }
     void PicoGraphics_PenP4::set_pen(uint c) {
         color = c & 0xf;
-     }
+        }
     void PicoGraphics_PenP4::set_pen(uint8_t r, uint8_t g, uint8_t b) {
         int pen = RGB(r, g, b).closest(palette, palette_size);
         if(pen != -1) color = pen;
@@ -61,7 +62,25 @@ namespace pimoroni {
         *f &= m; // clear bits
         *f |= b; // set value
     }
-    
+
+    void PicoGraphics_PenP4::set_pixel_span(const Point &p, uint l) {
+        // pointer to byte in framebuffer that contains this pixel
+        uint8_t *buf = (uint8_t *)frame_buffer;
+        uint8_t *f = &buf[(p.x / 2) + (p.y * bounds.w / 2)];
+
+        // doubled up color value, so the color is stored in both nibbles
+        uint8_t cc = color | (color << 4);
+        
+        // handle the first pixel if not byte aligned
+        if(p.x & 0b1) {*f &= 0b11110000; *f |= (cc & 0b00001111); f++; l--;}
+
+        // write any double nibble pixels
+        while(l > 1) {*f++ = cc; l -= 2;}
+
+        // handle the last pixel if not byte aligned
+        if(l) {*f &= 0b00001111; *f |= (cc & 0b11110000);}
+    }
+
     void PicoGraphics_PenP4::get_dither_candidates(const RGB &col, const RGB *palette, size_t len, std::array<uint8_t, 16> &candidates) {
         RGB error;
         for(size_t i = 0; i < candidates.size(); i++) {
diff --git a/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics_pen_p8.cpp b/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics_pen_p8.cpp
index 7f1f60c7..a2f3aad1 100644
--- a/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics_pen_p8.cpp
+++ b/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics_pen_p8.cpp
@@ -50,6 +50,16 @@ namespace pimoroni {
         buf[p.y * bounds.w + p.x] = color;
     }
     
+    void PicoGraphics_PenP8::set_pixel_span(const Point &p, uint l) {
+        // pointer to byte in framebuffer that contains this pixel
+        uint8_t *buf = (uint8_t *)frame_buffer;
+        buf = &buf[p.y * bounds.w + p.x];
+
+        while(l--) {
+            *buf++ = color;
+        }
+    }
+
     void PicoGraphics_PenP8::get_dither_candidates(const RGB &col, const RGB *palette, size_t len, std::array<uint8_t, 16> &candidates) {
         RGB error;
         for(size_t i = 0; i < candidates.size(); i++) {
diff --git a/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics_pen_rgb332.cpp b/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics_pen_rgb332.cpp
index 9fb7bb1c..d99970f0 100644
--- a/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics_pen_rgb332.cpp
+++ b/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics_pen_rgb332.cpp
@@ -22,6 +22,15 @@ namespace pimoroni {
         uint8_t *buf = (uint8_t *)frame_buffer;
         buf[p.y * bounds.w + p.x] = color;
     }
+    void PicoGraphics_PenRGB332::set_pixel_span(const Point &p, uint l) {
+        // pointer to byte in framebuffer that contains this pixel
+        uint8_t *buf = (uint8_t *)frame_buffer;
+        buf = &buf[p.y * bounds.w + p.x];
+
+        while(l--) {
+            *buf++ = color;
+        }
+    }
     void PicoGraphics_PenRGB332::set_pixel_dither(const Point &p, const RGB &c) {
         if(!bounds.contains(p)) return;
         static uint8_t _odm[16] = {
diff --git a/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics_pen_rgb565.cpp b/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics_pen_rgb565.cpp
index cdfa0b32..37520703 100644
--- a/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics_pen_rgb565.cpp
+++ b/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics_pen_rgb565.cpp
@@ -22,4 +22,13 @@ namespace pimoroni {
         uint16_t *buf = (uint16_t *)frame_buffer;
         buf[p.y * bounds.w + p.x] = color;
     }
+    void PicoGraphics_PenRGB565::set_pixel_span(const Point &p, uint l) {
+        // pointer to byte in framebuffer that contains this pixel
+        uint16_t *buf = (uint16_t *)frame_buffer;
+        buf = &buf[p.y * bounds.w + p.x];
+
+        while(l--) {
+            *buf++ = color;
+        }
+    }
 }
\ No newline at end of file