Kool Hand has been having a great 2025 so far, producing numerous characters and writing pieces all over the place, each contributing to a noticeable and steady improvement over time. This is a lovely piece that was painted in the tunnel as part of Wispa’s birthday paint jam.
Kool Hand, St Werburghs, Bristol, June 2025
This KOOL writing is very well produced, although in my least favourite range of colours. He is experimenting with some interesting fill pattern, which all look rather nice, and his fat white highlights work quite well to give the letters some depth. This is a nice piece to add to Kool Hand’s ever-expanding portfolio.
Noise consistently turns out great graffiti writing pieces. Never too showy or ostentatious, he always puts his big letters to good use. I have noticed that of late he has been using quite dark colours and tones, which adds a weight to his work.
Noise, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, June 2025
This is a superb display from Noise, with slightly more elaborate letters than normal, but it is the fill that is most captivating. The lower half of the deep red letters has an incredible cloudy marbling effect, simply stunning, and the white highlights on the letters create superb depth, giving texture to the letters, lifting them off the wall. A top piece of graffiti writing from Noise.
More from L Dub, this time by Donz, who, like Dun Sum, seems to favour this spot over any of the other Bristol graffiti haunts. Donz is notable for his colourful pieces that use strong and contrasting colours that he works well together.
Donz, L Dub, Bristol, June 2025
The letters in this piece are nicely done, and I particularly like the orange star over the ‘O’ of DONZ. Donz has taken care with the presentation of the piece, starting with a nicely buffed white wall and an interesting yellow glow around the letters. I see, all of a sudden a fried egg, and once seen it can’t be unseen (sorry). The letters are finished with a deep two-tone 3D drop shadow, to help the letters pop. A colourful extravaganza.
I have to keep reminding myself what ABC stands for, and it is, of course, Art Beat Crew, which is a collection of friends and artists who operate mostly out of Lawrence Weston. This is a really funky cartoon-style portrait piece by the fabulous character artist Dun Sum.
Dun Sum, L Dub, Bristol, June 2025
Although he occasionally makes the journey into Bristol centre, Dun Sum paints most of his pieces on the subway walls in Lawrence Weston. It is a quiet backwater, with plenty of wall space and little disturbance. It also has a very small footfall, mainly graffiti artists and dog-walkers, so few get to see his talent. This is a beautifully presented character with big hair and beard, although cleverly Dun Sum has painted the moustache and eyebrows in a slightly different tone and style. Reflections in the goggles add a nice touch. A bit of fun from Dun Sum at L Dub.
One of the fastest entries into the Bristol street art scene has to be that of Tera. I met him earlier this summer, painting his first ever piece (!) under Brunel Way, alongside Kid Crayon. The two have set up a symbiotic relationship. Tera is a Tattoo artist and runs a parlour in Bristol, which Kid Crayon has joined as a newbie, there is employment and some money to be made in body art. In return, Kid Crayon has been teaching Tera the finer points of street art. Both are learning really fast.
Tera, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2025
I met the larger-than-life Tera while he was well advanced with this piece and only had the writing and finishing touches to do. It is extraordinary to think that Tera has only painted a handful of times in his life, and can produce pieces like this that many artists take a lifetime to achieve.
Tera, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2025
Tera clearly has a great understanding of form, colour, light and shade, and seems to have mastered can-control really quickly. The detail on the character’s mask and the pipes attached to the mask is awesome. A tidy bit of urban landscape and some great letters (TERA) round the piece off nicely. Naturally, there are one or two rough edges to the piece, but I believe Tera will be turning out some outstanding work in the future, and I am very much looking forward to seeing it.
I only really became aware of The Art of Sok’s work a couple of years ago or so, and thoroughly enjoy his cartoon style. There is a simplicity to his work, which relies on outstanding design beautifully sharp accurate and sharp execution.
The Art of Sok, M32 Spot, Bristol, June 2025
The Art of Sok has painted a face on a wall, without any outlines of a head, as if the wall itself were animate, looking not unlike something you might see in a Thomas the Tank Engine illustration, only better. The colours and shading are near-perfect and design flawless. A great first Bristol piece of the year.
It is difficult to know how he does it, but Stivs keeps on turning out masterful pieces, whether it is his calligraffiti, portraits or robots, they just keep on coming and with such high quality. This is a stunning portrait o the swimming pool wall at Dean Lane.
Stivs, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2025
Stivs uses the technique of painting patterns on the wall, taking a picture of the patterns, overlaying his sketch onto the picture and then using the patterns as a kind of template reference. The result is utterly beguiling and beautiful. If it is at all possible, Stivs is just getting better and better.
It has to be said that Mr Draws, in his own quiet and modest way, has had a banging year so far. He has been painting as frequently as I can remember and turning out some great pieces, large and small, all over the city. As well as his distinctive writing, he has also painted some of his nature and wildlife pieces recently too. Looking through his updated gallery, reminds me of just what a brilliant artist he is.
Mr Draws, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2025
This is a wonderfully colourful splash, looking great in the summer sunshine (shame about the tree shadow). The playful letters DR3WS are surrounded with some wibbly smiley acid faces, a common stamp used in street art. The words ‘good vibrations’ kind of sum up the whole piece, which exudes an uplifting summer feel. Great work from Mr Draws.
Natural adventures 