6805. Cumberland Basin

Mind 49, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2025
Mind 49, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2025

Ooh! How brilliant to see Mind 49 returning to the streets after a relatively quiet start to the year. Commensurate with his last piece at the Greenbank spot in January, Mind 49 has combined a photorealistic portrait with a cartoon illustration, carrying some threat and menace.

Mind 49, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2025
Mind 49, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2025

The portrait is superb, painted in his unique style that creates what I would term a blurred photorealism, rather than some of the perfect sharp pieces that you see from time to time. The cartoon parts begin around the main character’s neck and show him holding a pistol. In the background, a hooded character looks on. I love the way that Mind 49 brings these two very different styles together and makes them sit side by side effortlessly. Looking forward to more as the days get longer and weather warms up.

6804. M32 Spot (199)

Jest Soubriquet, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2025
Jest Soubriquet, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2025

I am not entirely sure where Jest Soubriquet is based, but he comes to Bristol to paint often enough to make me think it is probably along the M4 corridor somewhere. This piece is painted on one of my favourite walls in Bristol under the M32 and features a wolf.

Jest Soubriquet, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2025
Jest Soubriquet, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2025

While I would say there are one or two things not quite right with the Wolf, I think it is a great representation and the colours and shading augment the animal really well. I am interested in the overall composition, which places the wolf in front of a brown and pink background, which might represent something, but I am not sure what. The words’Beware the dogs of war’ accompany the piece and perhaps put into some kind of context. Always great to find pieces by Jest Soubriquet.

6803. Greenway Bush Lane (7)

Desi, Greenway Bush Lane, Bristol, February 2025
Desi, Greenway Bush Lane, Bristol, February 2025

Desi has been as busy so far this year as at any time I can remember, which is great news. This piece was painted in Greenway Bush Lane, which is fast becoming a graffiti hotspot, alongside Pekoe and Pura Decadencia.

Desi, Greenway Bush Lane, Bristol, February 2025
Desi, Greenway Bush Lane, Bristol, February 2025

The orange colours are nicely blended through the VEIL letters, although the paint is a little thin (often the case with oranges and yellows in particular), and there are some nicely reversed out spots for decoration. Desi has added some subtle star bursts, which almost make the piece look slightly out of focus, an interesting effect. Long may this productive streak last!

6802. Dean Lane skate park (813)

Created by Billie, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2025
Created by Billie, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2025

It is not often you see a piece like this in Bristol, or indeed in much of the UK, as street artists tend to reflect the national prudishness and our discomfort with overt nudity in any form. These giant boobies, have been painted by Created by Billie, an artist, Billie Jo, who I believe is based in Wolverhampton, but as with all visiting artists is truly welcome in Bristol.

Created by Billie, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2025
Created by Billie, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2025

The hashtags that Created by Billie used on her Instagram post associated with this piece, might give you some indication of where it is coming from: #art #streetart #femaleempowerment #female #adhd #paintingmakesmehappy. I cannot think of better reasons for painting this piece.

Sensibly she painted it on the path alongside the swimming pool, which has a long hedge bordering it, and kept the piece from view, resulting in it lasting longer than it might have done if it had been more exposed. Personally, I like the piece, but am aware that there are some who might find it offensive, which is a pity. I look forward to more visits in the future.

6801. M32 roundabout J3 (665)

Hypo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2025
Hypo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2025

This piece by Hypo, who is on a roll right now, symbolises for me a party. If you wanted to paint the word without spelling the word, this is what it could look like. The fierce is full of energy, colour and joy.

Hypo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2025
Hypo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2025

The letters spell out Hypo and are full of classical graffiti writing references, such as arrows, drips, starbursts and spots. There is lots here to enjoy, and the overall sense of wellbeing that the piece transmits is palpable. This is another in a series of wonderful pieces from the artist, who has had a great couple of years.

6800. M32 roundabout J3 (664)

Eska, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2025
Eska, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2025

I know that Eska likes to travel around a bit – I think he lives on a houseboat, but I am pleased to note that he spends quite a lot of time in Bristol, and his pieces are becoming familiar landmarks all over the city. I guess the floating harbour is a handy place to moor up, combining his lifestyle with his artwork.

Eska, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2025
Eska, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2025

Eska’s highly symbolic pieces are a form of anamorphic writing, but with so much more going on besides, particularly if you have a closer look. I think the letters spell ESKA, but can’t be too sure, but in amongst the platforms and surfaces created by his writing you can find tiny scenes going on.

Eska, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2025
Eska, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2025

A close up of the bottom section near the signature shows that this piece was for the World Wall Stylers ‘Space Jam’ challenge. You can also see some tiny figures and their long shadows gazing across the piece.

6799. Cumberland Basin

Werm, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2025
Werm, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2025

Werm is continuing along his journey, experimenting with bilateral symmetry in his writing. The symmetry in this one is notable, but I think that it might be the colour scheme that initially attracts the eye, with some nice contrasting reds, greens and oranges.

Werm, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2025
Werm, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2025

What baffles me about writers like Werm is how they manage to get everything ‘right’ if you know what I mean. For example, in this piece the green drop shadow veers off to the right, but it needs to be perfect across all the letters otherwise something would look out of kilter. I suppose the old adage, practice makes perfect, applies here, but it is still an admirable talent.

6798. St Werburghs tunnel (482)

Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2025
Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2025

This trio of pieces in the tunnel, show how busy Mr Klue has been of late in his favourite spot. The one on the left was painted a day or two before the other two, which I think might have been created in a single session.

Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2025
Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2025

The left-hand piece, as with all of them, spells KLUE and has a green base palette. Ephemeral, smoky, abstract letters are part of the USP I would expect to see from Mr Klue and he rarely disappoints. There is little more to add from these three pieces, other than their colour differences.

Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2025
Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2025

Pinks and purples dominate in this middle piece, with some yellow highlights along some edges.

Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2025
Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2025

Finally, the trio is rounded off on the right with a piece that is predominantly white, again with some yellow highlights. All three together show how Mr Klue’s abstract writing is based around the same simple concept, but can look completely different depending on the design details and colour palette. A busy man.

Homeward-bound

Reading Station, March 2025
Reading Station, March 2025

.

Weary journey home

and two more connecting trains

sunset on the tracks

.

by Scooj

6797. Greenway Bush Lane (6)

Pekoe, Greenway Bush Lane, Bristol, February 2025
Pekoe, Greenway Bush Lane, Bristol, February 2025

Pekoe is a firm favourite on Natural Adventures, and this piece, which was painted alongside RBF crew friends Desi and Pura formed the centrepiece of the triptych. I know that Pekoe has an interest in stained-glass windows, and this piece perfectly reflects that interest.

Pekoe, Greenway Bush Lane, Bristol, February 2025
Pekoe, Greenway Bush Lane, Bristol, February 2025

I love Pekoe’s tagline, which appears in most of her work these days ‘hot girls hate fascists’ because it really belittles those whose attitudes are shaped by nasty figures such as Andrew Tate, Trump and the like, who prey on the disillusionment of young men and steer them towards a far right solution to all their problems and whose attitudes undo all the progressive policies that have made the world a much fairer place in my lifetime.

This is a lovely piece that showcases Pekoes versatility, and I wonder if we are going to see any more of these stained-glass style pieces in the future.