Turoe is one of the most reliable and consistent writers in Bristol, and it is a shame that he doesn’t write nearly as much these days as he has done in the past.
This is a fine price celebrating Shade One’s birthday, and spelling out SHADE. Some great letter shapes picked out with fine black lines are surrounded by pink and purple bubbly decorations. This birthday paint jam turned out some real gems, as is often the case with this group of artists.
Another wonderful piece by Sketch underneath the M32, and one which I saw him painting, from behind the railings up on Stapleton Road. I need to find out more about the artist, as I have so many questions to ask him.
This a rather unusual affair, like a series of splats and spots and an unusual piece of writing. A fine abstract combination piece. Some great colours, and once again strong modern art influences.
I am a bit fed up with the WordPress classic editor block. On my iPad I have to go into blocks, rather than simply being able to default to it. I have just lost an entire post because I failed to save my progress.
Desi, who writes both DESI and VEIL is another artist who had a fairly slow 2025, although her work has picked up in the winter months of 2025-26.
This is a superb combination piece that incorporates a rather fetching sheep. Her work has improved so much over the years, and she now has a tangible confidence. The fills are beautifully done, and the sharpness of the lines in the character skilfully presented. One from September retrieved from my archive.
Having had a wonderful first day of skiing yesterday, I decided to write today’s posts last night so that things weren’t quite so rushed in the morning. This is another banging piece by Pekoe from my archives too last September, another one that slipped through the cracks.
Pekoe and her RBF friends have has a quiet 2025, which I hope is just a blip, because I love their work, especially as they tend to paint together, bringing me lots of pieces to admire at once. This is a delightful portrait piece of a blue_faced lady with wonderful garlands in her hair. It feels like a bit of a throw-back to some of her older work and it is really beautiful. More please in 2026.
m
Another quick one this morning from DFC1848 underneath the M32. I retrieved this one from my archives too. It is a wonderful character column piece, carrying a great message.
From the first shot, you can get a sense of this spot, which is bisected by the River Frome. I hope to get into more of a rhythm tomorrow.
First day skiing in the alps today, so really not much time to write today’s posts. This is a wonderful piece by Solar that got left behind in my archives.
The colours are absolutely magnificent and the piece delivered in Solar’s inimitable semi-antistyle fashion. Great work.
I had meant to post this epic piece by Rowdy some time ago, and somehow it slipped through the net. I think I had wanted to get some better photographs, but because of its size it is difficult to do it justice.
The Huge Bristol crocodile was painted back in August last year and is a bit of a signature character for Rowdy. Indeed, the crocodile is pretty well known throughout Bristol, having appeared in so many different spots over the years. A characterful piece from a characterful artist.
A really quick one today as I head off to the Alps for a week of skiing. I will probably be in the air at the time this scheduled post is published. I remain a firm fan of Face 1st, and more than any other artist, he epitomises my relationship with the Bristol scene. We had a chance to catch up a week or two back while he was painting on the M32 roundabout – a piece I never saw, because it was over painted within a day or so. He really is a lovely man, enjoying life in Herefordshire.
This is a classic piece of Face 1st artwork – a smiling girl character with big hair, spelling FACE. The piece was photographed in August last year and has been retrieved from my archives, filling in while January pieces are a little thin on the ground. A lovely combination piece, perfectly matched with the spot.
It was Minto’s birthday paint jam in the tunnel a little while back, and this was the second of two pieces that he painted during the celebrations. I know it was the second, because when I first photographed it, it was unfinished, and I had to return, as did Minto a few days later.
The piece features a portrait of a man wearing a hard hat with the words ‘Dylan, Floris and Minto’, in front of which is a rather worse for wear looking rabbit. I am not sure what any of this is all about, but it must mean something to the birthday boy.
The paint jam was probably the best attended in 2025 and a great gesture from all the artists who turned up to celebrate. It was also a great source of material for Natural Adventures, for which I thank each and every participant. Looking forward to something equally impressive in November 2026
One of the central tenets of graffiti art is to protest against perceived and real injustices. Walls have been used for centuries to express support for, or dissatisfaction with, those in power, and this example from Rowdy perfectly demonstrates this.
The piece demands the freeing of the Filton 24. You might ask who they are, so I recruited ChatGPT to provide a summary as follows:
The Filton 24 are a group of pro-Palestinian activists, many linked to the direct-action group Palestine Action, arrested in connection with an action at the Elbit Systems UK site in Filton, Bristol in August 2024. Elbit Systems is an Israeli-owned defence company, and the protest was intended to disrupt what activists say is the company’s role in supplying military equipment used in Israel’s operations in Gaza. During the action, protesters breached the site’s perimeter using a modified vehicle and caused damage to property and equipment.
Initially, a small number of activists were arrested at the scene, with further arrests made later through coordinated police raids, bringing the total to 24. Police used counter-terrorism powers during the investigation and detention phase, although the protesters have not been charged with terrorism offences; instead, they face charges such as aggravated burglary, criminal damage, and violent disorder. All have been remanded in custody, many for unusually long periods before trial, which has sparked controversy and criticism from civil liberties groups. Supporters argue the prolonged pre-trial detention and use of terrorism-related powers represent an excessive response to protest activity, while authorities point to the seriousness and planning involved in the action.
Rowdy has added one of his fabulous cats, as if to add some humanity to the words, which on their own are not as potent. I love it that street art and graffiti is a way that voices can be heard, whether you agree with them or not. There is something authentic and visceral about it.
Natural adventures 