What a wonderful surprise this gorgeous portrait piece was, when I walked along the M32 cycle path shortly after my return from a week away from Bristol. I don’t think I have come across the artist, Syone MTF, before, but if this is anything to go by, I would be keen to see more.
Syone MTF, M32 cycle path, Bristol, February 2022
In a blue-scale colour palette, this modestly sighted portrait certainly grabs the attention. It is a nicely worked piece moving in the direction of photorealism, but not quite there yet. I would love to see more from the artist and sincerely hope this isn’t a one-off. Eye-catching.
I simply had to dig this piece out of my archive because I was lucky enough to meet the artist, Ceus, earlier this week painting a new wall very close to this one in Dean Lane. I was not alone in struggling to find out who the artist was, but now the riddle, from last October, is solved. It turns out that Ceus is another Spanish street artist. He lives in Bath and doesn’t have much time to paint as he has a very busy life in the restaurant business. A nicer bloke you couldn’t wish to meet.
Ceus, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2021
This piece is a real stunner, and it was such a shame not to be able to post it last year, but good things come to those who wait. Ceus is a really talented artist, as this piece demonstrates, and the burst of colour on a white background works exceptionally well. It is obvious now to see that the letters spell out CEUS… hindsight is a wonderful thing. I like everything about this piece, and it is a nice warm-up for the piece he painted this week, which I have to return to before it gets painted over. A gem.
This is the first piece I am posting that I photographed after my return from a week away in France, and already my February 2022 folder is bursting at the seams from pieces painted over a seven or eight day period. Bristol has, more than ever in my experience, so many artists painting regularly that it is simply impossible to keep on top of them. There are also a great many new entrants popping up, probably drawn to Bristol because of its graffiti culture.
Zake, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2022
Of course Zake is hardly a new entrant to the Bristol street art scene, but I still consider him to be relatively recent, with his early pieces still decorating some of the pillars under the M32 motorway. This is a gorgeous double face piece, which is so unmistakably ‘Zake’ in design and execution. His work just goes from strength to strength with each new piece he paints. This was one of two recent collaborative walls painted with fellow Spaniard Varo.
I was lucky enough to bump into Mr Draws just as he was prepping for this wall; it was a busy day for artists in the tunnel. I understand that Mr Draws has a good supply of chrome in his paint store and that is why several of his pieces of late have heavily featured chrome.
Mr Draws, St Werburghs, Bristol, January 2022
Mr Draws has been favouring these larger walls lately, and seems to be enjoying the freedom that they afford. The design of this piece is relatively straightforward and the fills and drips nicely done. In common with many of his recent pieces Mr Draws has included his horizontal bars, in red, to add interest to the piece. More great work from one of the nicest artists in Bristol.
3F fino has been smashing it lately, along with his LRS friends, and barely a spot in Bristol is without one of his pieces decorating it. This particular figure is on a column under the M32. Round column pieces are quite tricky to paint, I am told, but this one is on a square column, and apart from the limited width, is nicely done, albeit probably a quick one.
3F fino, M32 Spot, Bristol, January 2022
In this piece, 3F fino has created one of his masked characters, wearing a hat with the word Fino emblazoned on it. The character’s body contains the letters LRS, a nod to the crew that is quite large and growing in Bristol.
One of the most distinctive characters painted at spots all over Bristol is a cartoon-style T-Rex, by T-Rex. Her work is light-hearted and fun, but always beautifully presented.
T-Rex, St Werburghs, Bristol, January 2022
This one appeared in St Werburghs tunnel shortly before I went on holiday, and I am pleased to be able to post it now. The delightful scene features a rather angry looking T-Rex chasing an innocent butterfly through some grass clumps and flowers. T-Rex doesn’t get out as much as she used to, parental duties and all that, but she certainly surprises us from time to time.
Although I cannot be 100 per cent certain, I have a very strong feeling that this rather fun piece is by Big Hev. There are a few give aways that lead me to think she is the creator. Firstly it has been painted in the company of pieces painted by her friends, secondly there is a naive style of someone that doesn’t paint all that often, and thirdly the character’s mouth is very Big Hevesque.
Big Hev, Devon Road, Bristol, January 2022
If I am wrong, and I often am, then I am wrong. There is something highly amusing about a helicopter hat, and it reminds me of daft American humour often epitomised in Mad magazine and other media. It is a pity that Big Hev doesn’t get out more to paint, because despite its raw quality, it really works for me, and I think with more practice she could start producing some great work.
Natural adventures 