I am Stephen. I live in Bristol, UK. I decided to shorten my profile...to this: Wildlife, haiku, travel, streetart, psychogeography and my family. Not necessarily in that order.
When have I not liked a Kid Crayon piece? An easy answer… never. Some double negatives there, but what I am saying is that I love Kid Crayon’s work and this Archway piece in John Street is a real gem.
Kid Crayon, John Street, Bristol, September 2020
This open air gallery of ten archways is a fantastic showcase for some of Bristol’s great street artists and Kid Crayon has seized the opportunity and come up with this piece that resembles a stained-glass window. Crayon, cat, cup and cactus, are all here in this portrait piece set in front of a blue glass window. Absolutely wonderful.
I am really enjoying acquainting myself with the work of Phour (whose Instagram account is @bumwin if you are interested). His letters lend themselves to a rather pleasing form, which is not the case with all writers, with the P and H being particularly nice.
Phour, Hepburn Road, Bristol, September 2020
This piece combines the contrasting pink and turquoises with real panache and if there is one thing that is consistent about Phour’s work it is his use of bright and vibrant colours. This one is tucked away in Hepburn Road, which is always worth an occasional visit where gems can be found from time to time.
I think we can be fairly clear about what Morny thinks about our illustrious ludicrous Prime Minister. There is no holding back on this piece, and perhaps it reflects what so many people think at the moment in this divided country that we live in.
Morny, St Werburghs, Bristol, September 2020
I am a big fan of Morny’s style that I would describe as child-like in its form and colour selections, but unlike the work of a child, it has some sophistication. I like this portrait of Boris, it is well observed (hands in pockets) and obvious who it is. I am inclined to agree with Morny on this one… it’s not my fault, it’s your fault.
I fear that Mr Penfold is an artist who is probably a little bit under represented in Natural Adventures, not because I don’t like his work, but more that as a designer who works mostly on commissions his work can be spread about the city and is rarely to be found in the more common spots that I visit.
Mr Penfold, King Street, Bristol, September 2020
It would seem that Mr Penfold has a repeat commission for painting this particular archway because I have seen other designs of his here before. Unmistakably the work of the artist this is a little different from many of his pieces. The shapes have solid fills rather than patterns, but it is the straight lines and the shadows they cast that are a bit of a give away. This is a really classy design from a classy designer.
Welcome to the second piece by Nathan Bowen from a recent trip to Bristol tucked away in Hepburn Road, locally known as ‘crack alley’ although it seems to have become slightly less intimidating than it used to be.
Nathan Bowen, Hepburn Road, Bristol, September 2020
This piece continues the theme of construction workers in yellow hats in line with the piece I posted a few days back. I am guessing that in choosing this theme Nathan Bowen is commentating on the rise and rise of gentrification in the area, something he will be all too familiar with in the street art areas of London. I am a big fan of his scribble cartoon style, which must be really difficult to do with spray paint. He must be using some super-skinny caps. One more to come from this talented artist.
No street art festival in the south of England is complete without something, and often several somethings from My Dog Sighs. The artist seems to be particularly fond of the Cheltenham Paint Festival and this year’s main piece was no disappointment.
My Dog Sighs, Paint Festival 2020, Cheltenham, September 2020
This is a superb take on urban pigeons in a style that My Dog Sighs has made his own. These clusters of pigeons, identifiable by their necks and iridescent purple and green breasts have faces as varied as their real life counterparts and have a sort of bewildered indifference about them.
My Dog Sighs, Paint Festival 2020, Cheltenham, September 2020
I very much like the way the beaks are attached to the faces with string and the human faces, almost as if these are people in pigeon costumes, but that would be ridiculous, wouldn’t it?
My Dog Sighs, Paint Festival 2020, Cheltenham, September 2020
This was one of my favourite pieces at the Festival this year, and a little different from some of the ‘big-ticket’ pieces he has done in previous years. I feel a My Dog Sighs gallery coming on soon.
A gallery of outstanding murals from Bristol artist and designer Zase
All photographs by Scooj
Zase, Dean Street, Bristol, August 2021, Upfest 21Zase, John Street, Bristol, September 2020
Zase and Silent Hobo, Alfred Street, Bristol, September 2020Zase, York Street, Bristol, March 2020Zase, York Street, Bristol, March 2020Zase, York Street, Bristol, March 2020Zase, Barton Road, Bristol, April 2019Zase and Dekor, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018Zase, Newfoundland Road, Bristol, September 2018Zase, Newfoundland Road, Bristol, September 2018Zase, Newfoundland Road, Bristol, September 2018Zase, Newfoundland Road, Bristol, September 2018Zase and Dekor, Mina Road, Bristol, June 2018Zase and Dekor, Mina Road, Bristol, June 2018Zase and Dekor, Mina Road, Bristol, June 2018Zase and Dekor, Mina Road, Bristol, June 2018Zase and Dekor, Cottrell Road, Bristol, September 2017Zase and Dekor, Cottrell Road, Bristol, September 2017Zase and Dekor, Cottrell Road, Bristol, September 2017Zase and Dekor, Cottrell Road, Bristol, September 2017Zase and Dekor, M32 Spot, Bristol, June 2017Zase and Dekor, M32 Spot, Bristol, June 2017Zase and Dekor, M32 Spot, Bristol, June 2017Zase and Dekor, M32 Spot, Bristol, June 2017Zase and Dekor, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2017Zase and Dekor, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2017Zase and Dekor, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016Zase, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016Zase and Dekor, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016Zase and Dekor, Gloucester Road, Bristol, August 2015Zase and Dekor, Gloucester Road, Bristol, August 2015Zase and Dekor, Gloucester Road, Bristol, August 2015Zase and Dekor, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2016Zase and Dekor, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2016Zase, Muller Road, Bristol, April 2016Zase, Muller Road, Bristol, April 2016Zase, Muller Road, Bristol, April 2016Zase, Muller Road, Bristol, April 2016Zase and Dekor, Claremont Road, Bristol, August 2015Zase and Dekor, Claremont Road, Bristol, August 2015Zase and Dekor, Claremont Road, Bristol, August 2015Zase and Dekor, Ashley Road, Bristol, November 2015Zase and Dekor, Ashley Road, Bristol, November 2015Zase and Dekor, Ashley Road, Bristol, November 2015Zase and Dekor, York Street, Bristol, September 2015Zase and Dekor, York Street, Bristol, September 2015Zase and Dekor, York Street, Bristol, September 2015Zase and Dekor, York Street, Bristol, September 2015Zase and Dekor, Cottrell Street, Bristol, August 2015Zase and Dekor, Cottrell Street, Bristol, August 2015Zase and Dekor, detail, Cottrell Street, Bristol, August 2015Zase, Gloucester Road, Bristol