6003. Peterborough

Nyces, Peterborough, April 2024
Nyces, Peterborough, April 2024 (morning)

Last month I visited Peterborough for work, and because it is some distance away from Bristol, I stayed the night before the workshop I was leading, in a hotel. On the way to my lodgings, I took a meandering route (as I always do when visiting an unfamiliar town or city), and was rewarded with this unbelievable mural by Nyces (Nathan Murdoch).

Nyces, Peterborough, April 2024
Nyces, Peterborough, April 2024 (afternoon)

It appears that Nyces is ‘the’ street artist in town, and although there are small pockets of graffiti writing in various places, Nyces ‘owns’ the walls of Peterborough. This outstanding piece is obviously a reflection of the horrific war in Gaza, with a child in combat gear sitting forlornly in a desert near a makeshift dwelling. A spray can sits amongst pebbles in the foreground, but the small bacon of hope comes from the snowdrop flower emitting some sparkles of light. This is a moving piece that has a calm about it, a sense of resignation – very powerful. It is superbly painted too.

I got really lucky on my way back to the station after my workshop. I had been told that there was an artist painting in the shopping centre opposite the station, and indeed it was Nyces who was painting a series of large murals to brighten the place up. Naturally I introduced myself and has great chat with him. Although he doesn’t leave Peterborough too often, he has visited Bristol once or twice in the past. One or two more pieces to come from Peterborough’s Nyces.

6002. Dean Lane skate park (713)

Mr Crawls, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2024
Mr Crawls, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2024

These pictures are my second attempt at capturing this fine bird piece by Mr Crawls, the first effort resulted in photographs that had the piece in brighter light but scattered with shadows. Sometimes overcast days are much better for certain spots, such as Greenbank and Sparke Evans Park, as well as anywhere with overhanging trees or herbage.

Mr Crawls, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2024
Mr Crawls, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2024

Mr Crawls has been having a great few months, especially since joining up with Mote, a partnership that appears to have stretched both artists with some terrific outcomes. In this bird piece, Mr Crawls has used his favoured chrome background as a backdrop for his raptor(?) character sporting a rather nice hat. Although Mr Crawls has been experimenting with all sorts of creative monsters, it is comforting when he returns to one of his classic birds.

6001. Frome Side (32)

Logoe, Frome Side, Bristol, April 2024
Logoe, Frome Side, Bristol, April 2024

When Logoe comes to Bristol from Wales where he lives, he tends to paint in the Eastville spots, so I imagine that he has friends who he can stay with in the area. This piece from a recent visit was painted underneath the M32 motorway, a spot that I don’t visit all that often because it is quite tricky to do with the dog.

Logoe, Frome Side, Bristol, April 2024
Logoe, Frome Side, Bristol, April 2024

This piece, which has not photographed very well because of the light conditions, follows the classic Logoe formula. Some decent script writing, nicely filled and bordered, set on a contrasting background and sprinkled with oval spots. I think that brighter colours might have suited the spot better, but remains a fine piece of graffiti writing.

6000. Cumberland Basin

Zake, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2024
Zake, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2024

It feels quite satisfying to reach another landmark on Natural Adventures. This is the 6,000th post featuring graffiti/street art, and that is a lot of art and a lot of words too. The first piece I wrote about was on 16 July 2015 on Park Street by an unknown artist, and was a temporary installation rather than a painted wall, little did I know then that I would still be posting street art nine years later. Today’s landmark piece comes courtesy of Zake.

Zake, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2024
Zake, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2024

The face piece is unmistakably by Zake, and although I don’t think it is one of his best pieces in terms of artwork, it is nonetheless striking and demands more than a cursory glance. A face appears to be emerging from a mask which is split down the middle, but the proportions of the mask don’t quite work for me. As ever, the skill with using light and shadow to create depth and texture is Zake’s forte, and the central brown face in particular is wonderfully crafted. Onward to the next 6,000!

5999. Dean Lane skate park (712)

Dibz and Fade, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2024
Dibz and Fade, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2024

The machine that is Dibz and Fade continues to produce outstanding collaborations, and this one in Dean Lane is a cracker. The Dark Knight is a popular icon for street artists, and Dibz and Fade have gone with the darker variant of the caped crusader, unlike the comedic, lighter cartoonish options they might have gone with

Dibz and Fade, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2024
Dibz and Fade, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2024

When I asked Fade how I should attribute the artwork in their pieces, he suggested that where the lines become blurred, just label them Dibz and Fade. The writing is attributable, with Fade on the left and Dibz on the right, but the rest of the work is collaborative. A well-thought-out piece, tidily presented – what else would you expect?

5998. St George skate park (21)

Haka, St George, Bristol, April 2024
Haka, St George, Bristol, April 2024

In recent years, Haka has shifted his focus a little away from political statements, to the softer world of children’s picture books. The act of graffiti is no less subversive, but perhaps reflects different priorities in the artist’s life right now.

Haka, St George, Bristol, April 2024
Haka, St George, Bristol, April 2024

This piece is a faithful reproduction of the iconic children’s classic ‘Not Now, Bernard’ by David McKee, with the obvious replacement of the name Bernard with Haka. The piece, painted on the reverse side of a skate ramp, is in one of Haka’s favoured spots, and is wholly appropriate given that the park is so popular with young families. More, please.

5997. M32 roundabout J3 (571)

Logoe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2024
Logoe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2024

A little while back, Logoe hit town again with another rash of wonderful script writing. This time, I wasn’t so quick to get all the pieces, and they tend not to last too long – perhaps a feature of the spots he chooses, but this one I did snap up, and it is a bit of a beauty.

Logoe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2024
Logoe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2024

Once again, Logoe has written his name in a script style, although this time the letters are a little plumper and kinder than usual. There is a bit of a drip thing going on, which is always good to see, and the colour transition from green to yellow is nicely worked. The piece is finished off with the customary sprinkling of oval spots running through the middle. An eye-catching piece of graffiti writing.

Sophie Long

A gallery of extraordinary animal murals from Bristol artist and street artist Sophie Long

Instagram: @Sophielongart

Sophie Long, Midland Road, Bristol, March 2024
Sophie Long, Midland Road, Bristol, March 2024

Sophie Long, Cheltenham Paint Festival 23. Cheltenham, July 2023
Sophie Long, Cheltenham Paint Festival, Cheltenham, July 2023

Sophie Long, Cheltenham Paint Festival 23. Cheltenham, July 2023
Sophie Long, Cheltenham Paint Festival, Cheltenham, July 2023

Sophie Long, Weston wallz, Weston-super-Mare, May 2023
Sophie Long, Weston wallz, Weston-super-Mare, May 2023

Sophie Long, Weston wallz, Weston-super-Mare, May 2023
Sophie Long, Weston wallz, Weston-super-Mare, May 2023

Sophie Long, Cheltenham Paint Festival 22, July 2022
Sophie Long, Cheltenham Paint Festival 22, July 2022

Sophie Long, North Street, Bristol, August 2021, Upfest 21
Sophie Long, North Street, Bristol, August 2021, Upfest 21

Sophie Long, North Street, Bristol, August 2021, Upfest 21
Sophie Long, North Street, Bristol, August 2021, Upfest 21

Sophie Long, North Street, Bristol, October 2020
Sophie Long, North Street, Bristol, October 2020

Sophie Long, Paint Festival 2019, Cheltenham, September 2019
Sophie Long, Paint Festival 2019, Cheltenham, September 2019

Sophie Long, Paint Festival 2019, Cheltenham, September 2019
Sophie Long, Paint Festival 2019, Cheltenham, September 2019

Sophie Long, Paint Festival 2019, Cheltenham, September 2019
Sophie Long, Paint Festival 2019, Cheltenham, September 2019

Sophie Long, North Street, Bristol, January 2020
Sophie Long, North Street, Bristol, January 2020

Sophie Long, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Sophie Long, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

Sophie Long, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Sophie Long, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

Sophie Long, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Sophie Long, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

Sophie Long, Cheltenham Road, Bristol, November 2017
Sophie Long, Cheltenham Road, Bristol, November 2017

5996. Cumberland Basin

Fishlock, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2024
Fishlock, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2024

This is a bright and fun piece from Katie Fishlock was painted at the Bristol Mural Collective paint jam back in April. I have featured her work a few times in Natural Adventures, and have several more of her pieces in my archives, but perhaps don’t ‘big her up’ as much as she deserves.

Fishlock, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2024
Fishlock, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2024

Her art studio creative designs translate very well onto walls, which provide a great showcase for her design work. If you’d like to know more about Katie Fishlock, her biography on her website is well worth a read. The portrait piece here plays on the confusion of double sets of eyes, which the brain quickly dismisses and accepts as a normal face, a device used a lot in street art. I rather like the bold statement and way it is presented. Note to self – dig out more of her work from the archive.

5995. M32 roundabout J3 (570)

Kosc, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2024
Kosc, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2024

I feel that I have almost exhausted superlatives when describing Kosc’s work, and this piece leaves me scratching around for something to say that isn’t already clichéd in some way. How about this: Kosc is a great artist who has painted a fascinating and touching tribute to the American cartoon artist and graffiti-world favourite Vaughn Bode.

Kosc, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2024
Kosc, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2024

The writing alone is worthy of praise, but it is the Cheech Wizard and Lizard characters that augment the letters so well and bring the whole piece alive and straight into the crazy world of Vaughn Bode. Kosc is on a roll and just seems to get better and better, and this is a truly masterful piece.