Thursday doors – 21 November 2024 – Exeter doors

Doors 287 – Doors from Exeter, Devon – Part IV, October 2023

My doorscursion in Exeter from October 2023 continues with this selection of doors primarily from the Exeter Cathedral area of the city. Of course, I have focussed my attention on some of the older and more characterful doors of the city, but unlike other places, there is quite a high proportion of these special doors. I am a little busy this morning, so my introduction is brief, but I hope you enjoy today’s offering. I think there are one or two very special doors here:

Exeter Cathedral doors, Exeter, Devon, October 2024
Exeter Cathedral doors, Exeter, Devon, October 2024
Exeter Cathedral central door surrounded by dozens of stone statues, Exeter, Devon, October 2024
Exeter Cathedral central door surrounded by dozens of stone statues, Exeter, Devon, October 2024
Exeter Cathedral side door (North side), Exeter, Devon, October 2024
Exeter Cathedral side door (North side), Exeter, Devon, October 2024
White door and black frame, Number 1, Exeter, Devon, October 2024
White door and black frame, Number 1, Exeter, Devon, October 2024
Blue doors, Exeter, Devon, October 2024
Blue doors, Exeter, Devon, October 2024
Arched double doors, Exeter, Devon, October 2024
Arched double doors, Exeter, Devon, October 2024
Cathedral Close door, Exeter, Devon, October 2024
Cathedral Close door, Exeter, Devon, October 2024
10 Cathedral Close door, Exeter, Devon, October 2024
10 Cathedral Close door, Exeter, Devon, October 2024

This last door at number 10 Cathedral Close is a carved oak door from the 16th or 17th century. The studded door has a small postern door to allow pedestrian access, without having to swing the heavy weight of the main door open. This is special.

Well, that’s it for another week. Still more doors to come from the wonderful city of Exeter next time. Have a great weekend.

If you have made it this far, you probably like doors, and you really ought to take a look at the No Facilities blog by Dan Anton who has taken over the hosting of Thursday Doors from Norm 2.0 blog. Links to more doorscursions can be found in the comments section of Dan Anton’s Thursday Doors post.

by Scooj

Thursday Doors 2024 logo

6533. Cumberland Basin

Neddy Ned Neddy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2024
Neddy Ned Neddy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2024

Neddy Ned Neddy is one of those artists who paints from time to time in Bristol, but never enough to grace the pages of Natural Adventures all that often. It is always a pleasure to include his work, though, because his writing style is quite special and beautifully executed.

Neddy Ned Neddy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2024
Neddy Ned Neddy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2024

In most of his pieces, the vanishing point for his drop shadow is located centrally behind the letters, which gives the illusion that they are hurtling towards you from the background. The flaming colour selection works well against the blue, and this is an all-round stonking burner.

6532. Dean Lane skate park (779)

Stivs, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2024
Stivs, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2024

This post is written in haste. By the time I publish it, I will be in the Derbyshire countryside looking at a beaver release scheme. The reintroduction of beavers in the right places is a huge asset for local communities. The dams create wetlands, slowing the effects of flooding downstream, and during droughts the water retention where beavers live create oases where all around has dried up and withered, and for the nature lovers, who doesn’t love having beavers back in the English countryside?

Stivs, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2024
Stivs, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2024

This outstanding piece, by Stivs, is another of his epic character pieces. I don’t know who the character is, and a Google search has thrown up nothing. The character is painted in beautiful colours and has come together perfectly, with some sideways on perspective too. Alongside the robot (is it a robot?) are the words ‘Kill all humans’ which isn’t very friendly. The piece has survived pretty well, on a wall with a high turnover, and was still there when I last checked a couple of days ago. Great work from Stivs.

Wonderland

.

Clickety clacking 

through this English countryside 

silver snow blanket

.

by Scooj

Two-hour event

.

Excited children

snow falling hard in Bristol

settled then melted

.

by Scooj

6531. Sparke Evans Park (103)

Grimes, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, November 2024
Grimes, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, November 2024

This is yet another colourful outburst of joy and movement from Grimes, and a piece to enjoy and savour. Grimes has been smashing it with every piece he paints, and Bristol spots are without a doubt more colourful places when one of his pieces is present.

Grimes, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, November 2024
Grimes, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, November 2024

The three dimensional effect that Grimes creates in his work is outstanding, and this whole thing has the appearance of bursting out from the wall towards the viewer. Such is the energy in the piece it almost feels like an animation. The ‘fruit salad’ colours are beautifully distributed throughout the writing (Spelling GRIMES), and are set on a watery blue background, which is also full of swirling movement. In my eyes, this is a masterpiece of wildstyle writing.

6530. Sparke Evans Park (102)

Scrapyardspec, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, November 2024
Scrapyardspec, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, November 2024

I am seeing an awful lot more crazy character pieces by Scrapyardspec appearing on the streets of Bristol, which, as I said in a previous post, leads me to believe that he might have moved somewhere more local to the city. I am finding new piece almost on a weekly basis now.

Scrapyardspec, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, November 2024
Scrapyardspec, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, November 2024

This is quite a large specimen from Scrapyardspec on the long wall at Sparke Evans Park, squeezed in between writers. The monster character has all the features of a piece by the artist, that is to say, wibbly wobbly lines, crazy eyes, in this case three of them, and a tong hanging out from a goofy toothy mouth. More to come from Scrapyardspec soon.

6529. Cumberland Basin

Oust, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2024
Oust, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2024

It’s a funny thing, but I don’t know whether I simply haven’t registered Oust much in the past, or whether he is painting a little bit more often in Bristol, but I seem to be finding more Oust work about town these days.

Oust, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2024
Oust, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2024

This is a superb piece of writing, with all elements working well in harmony, although I think that the light blue of the letters is slightly washed out by some of the stronger colours around it. Obviously, the letters spell OUST and they have been filled with loads of patterning and symbols, mostly stars. There is a complex drop shadow in black and yellow and a busy red background. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from Oust.

6528. M32 roundabout J3 (639)

Zeks, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024
Zeks, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024

There is a simplicity and clarity in Zeks’ work, where less is definitely more. His child-like quality and themes work so very well. The autumn leaves in front of the piece complement the ‘blue sky’ background, so well, conjuring up visions of gorgeous autumn days.

Zeks, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024
Zeks, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024

The combination piece is split into distinct halves, with a beautifully illustrated urban landscape to the left (looking like one of those 1960-70s cartoon series), which is so full of character. The writing in contrasting and bright colours spells out ZEKS, and is filled with interesting but unfussy shapes and designs. This is a delightful and calming piece from Zeks.

6527. Dean Lane skate park (778)

Nice One, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2024
Nice One, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2024

This is a fabulous Halloween combination piece from Nice One, and one of a series of outstanding artworks from this most modest of artists. I think that the font he uses contrasts so well with all around it, creating a fresh look in amongst all the styles and fonts we get used to.

Nice One, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2024
Nice One, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2024

The portrait of the Joker is brilliantly reproduced and suitably menacing, perfect for Halloween. I love the way that Nice One has only hinted at his letters, with most of them obscured or falling outside the frame. There is simply so much to enjoy from Nice One’s work at the moment… long may it last.