5594. Cheltenham 2023 (13)

Pekoe, Vozie, Bnie, Wispa and Evey, Cheltenham Paint Festival, Cheltenham, July 2023
Pekoe, Vozie, Bnie, Wispa and Evey, Cheltenham Paint Festival, Cheltenham, July 2023

The Resting Bitchface (RBF) crew appeared to have a ball at the Cheltenham Paint Festival, painting this long collaborative wall, and then going on to decorate the multi-storey car park, which was opened up as a CPF venue for the first time this year. The dayglo colours of the piece give is a bit of a 1980s look, but with a contemporary RBF twist.

Pekoe, Cheltenham Paint Festival, Cheltenham, July 2023
Pekoe, Cheltenham Paint Festival, Cheltenham, July 2023

On the left and starting off the collaboration is a writing/portrait combination from Pekoe. This is as good a piece of writing I have seen from Pekoe and the character to the right is something a little different, a punk or skinhead girl with a plaster on her head. Vibrant stuff.

Vozie, Cheltenham Paint Festival, Cheltenham, July 2023
Vozie, Cheltenham Paint Festival, Cheltenham, July 2023

Next up is a classy piece of writing from Vozie, spelling out her name and breaking up different sections of the letters with different colours from the paint jam colour palette. The overall design is top class and the execution brilliant. Amazing stuff.

Bnie and Wispa, Cheltenham Paint Festival, Cheltenham, July 2023
Bnie and Wispa, Cheltenham Paint Festival, Cheltenham, July 2023

The next section has Bnie and Wispa snuggly side by side. Bnie’s writing picks up on the colour palette, but designs in the colours in a completely different way to Vozie. Bnie has gone for some horizontal layers, and a horizon line running through the midpoint of her BNIE. Finished to perfection, this too is an outstanding piece. Wispa has gone for a character piece overflowing with attitude. She has also decided not to go with the ‘corporate ‘colours and the impact of that is her character stands out as being a bit different. I get a feeling that the attitude isn’t constrained to Wispa, but runs through the whole collaboration in its loud colours and boldness.

Evey, Cheltenham Paint Festival, Cheltenham, July 2023
Evey, Cheltenham Paint Festival, Cheltenham, July 2023

Finally, the right hand end of the collaboration is represented by a fabulous piece of writing from Evey. In recent posts I have spoken about her rate of improvement this year, and this piece only goes to reinforce my view. Great letter shapes and delightfully eclectic fills that somehow work incredibly well together. This collaboration has all the hallmarks of a very successful and enjoyable day out for the RBF Crew. Outstanding.

5489. Greenbank (95)

Bnie, Greenbank, Bristol, August 2023
Bnie, Greenbank, Bristol, August 2023

The Barbie RBF paint jam is the gift that keeps on giving, and this is Barbie Bnie’s interpretation of the theme. Bnie has definitely stepped out of her normal style, as in fairness, have all the other artists, to create this stylised writing to match that of the Mattel doll brand. Lots of pink, a heart, soft curves and a yellow border.

Bnie, Greenbank, Bristol, August 2023
Bnie, Greenbank, Bristol, August 2023

I think that the paint jam theme was an inspired and contemporary choice, and gave us a glimpse at how an all-female crew (and Jody) would interpret and fashion their Own Barbie style. For me, the heart with a ‘Hi’ in it perfectly captures the mood. I have a feeling, although I can’t be certain that Bnie had more than a hand in creating the RBF (Resting Barbie Face) piece that accompanied the paint jam pieces, but was unsigned, although the more I look at it the less sure I am. Great work from Bnie.

Bnie?, Greenbank, Bristol, August 2023
Bnie?, Greenbank, Bristol, August 2023

5430. M32 Cycle path (224)

Bnie, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, July 2023
Bnie, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, July 2023

It feels a little bit repetitive banging on about how good Bnie’s work is, given that I say so every time that I post her work, but it is pretty much impossible not to do so. Bnie has been pretty busy this summer, not only on the streets of Bristol, but on the festival circuit too.

Bnie, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, July 2023
Bnie, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, July 2023

Bnie has played with her font a little in this piece, with a slight relaxation on the form with some arrows and pointy bits at the base of the letters. The letter fills are clever, looking almost reflective, as though dappled sunlight is bouncing off the piece. The letters are lifted with tidy 3D drop shadows and yellow and orange borders. Painted as part of an RBF paint jam.

5277. Frome Side (22)

Bnie and Wispa, Frome Side, Bristol, May 2023
Bnie and Wispa, Frome Side, Bristol, May 2023

I don’t venture down to this spot very often, because the access isn’t really very suitable for the dog, and I wouldn’t want to take him down there, so my trips are limited to occasions when I have some free time and am dog-free. Making the effort is usually worth it, and on the last occasion, my prize was this lovely RBF collaboration from Bnie and Wispa.

Bnie, Frome Side, Bristol, May 2023
Bnie, Frome Side, Bristol, May 2023

The pair of artists have chosen a salmon and cucumber colour scheme (were they subliminally influenced by the Garrick Club?). Bnie has painted pink BNIE letters which have the letters RBF in green (and blue) overlaid, in a very clever presentation. Neat, tidy and creative, this is another in a string of outstanding pieces of graffiti writing from Bnie.

Wispa, Frome Side, Bristol, May 2023
Wispa, Frome Side, Bristol, May 2023

Wispa has gone for a slightly lighter pink in her fill, transitioning to lilac and purple in horizontal strips. A deep 3D fill in green and black helps the writing to pop out from the wall. Wispa often adds extra value with her pieces by incorporating a character, and in this one a cuddly Kawaii rabbit adds to the cute factor. This is a lovely collaborative wall from these two great writers.

5248. Dean Lane skate park (600)

Vozie and Bnie, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2023
Vozie and Bnie, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2023

It is fitting that my six hundredth post from Dean Lane should feature a stunning collaboration wall from Vozie and Bnie, two of my favourite writers at the moment. There is an awful lot to like about this colourful collaboration, and the colours and style remind me of the cartoon fairground scene in Mary Poppins or the Village from the TV series ‘the Prisoner’ – the psychedelic elements probably elicit those thoughts.

Vozie, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2023
Vozie, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2023

To the left Vozie does what she does, although in this version of her name, she has written VOSE, not VOZIE which we are more accustomed to seeing. Beautiful letters, beautiful fills and a fabulous drop shadow… there is little more to say.

Bnie, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2023
Bnie, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2023

To the right Bnie has replicated the colours, fills and shadow to make this a truly collaborative piece. As with Vozie’s half, Bnie has created beautiful letters, using beautiful fills and a fabulous drop shadow. This is an exceptional piece from the RBF girls, and a bit of a fave of mine so far this year.

5179. Sparke Evans Park (68)

Bnie, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, April 2023
Bnie, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, April 2023

There were so many exceptional pieces painted for the ‘Burberry check’ themed paint jam down at Sparke Evans Park, and in the main they were of the highest quality. I might be pushing the boat out here a bit, but this might be one of the best pieces I have seen by Bnie altogether.

Bnie, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, April 2023
Bnie, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, April 2023

Her distinctive letters have been given the Burberry treatment, but it is not only the familiar check patterns that are stunningly presented, but the 3D drop shadow and border are so neat and tidy too. The whole thing is set on a dark blue wall with some cloudy wisps around the edges which help the writing to pop out a bit from the wall. Absolutely stunning work from Bnie.

5167. Greenbank (78)

Bnie, Greenbank, Bristol, April 2023
Bnie, Greenbank, Bristol, April 2023

Grrr! it is so annoying when the sun shines on days when I take a stroll to photograph urban art. I am so stupid, and get caught out all too often. This is the only piece that I can post from a wonderful Easter RBF paint jam on the Greenbank hoardings. I will have to return to photograph the rest again on an overcast day, and in the meantime just hope that they haven’t been tagged or bombed.

Bnie, Greenbank, Bristol, April 2023
Bnie, Greenbank, Bristol, April 2023

Bnie is a brilliant writer and artist, and her characteristic pieces are such a joy to find. This clever piece has two separate colour combination elements, one of yellow and pinks and the second is a zig-zag stripe of light blue and lilac colours running through the piece. I have seen this kind of inverse design technique before and it is always a winner. The eggs are a nod to Easter. Great work from Bnie.

5149. Elton Street (17)

Bnie, Elton Street, Bristol, April 2023
Bnie, Elton Street, Bristol, April 2023

Here Comes the Sun. Well that’s the ear worm sorted out for today at least, and it is fitting the Bnie has, deliberately or otherwise, gone for a script font and psychedelic background that is similar to that used by the Beatles in the 1960’s and 1970’s.

Bnie, Elton Street, Bristol, April 2023
Bnie, Elton Street, Bristol, April 2023

The most recent set of pieces in the Elton Street gallery, curated by Bnie, are on show now, and what a fine collection it is. Because the framed boards are set high, they tend not to get tagged, and the pieces remain in mint condition for all to see. This is a really classy piece by Bnie, beautifully designed with great proportions, and perfectly finished, crisp and clean throughout. More to come from this recent paint jam.

5087. Brunel Way (197)

Pekoe and Bnie, Brunel Way, Bristol, March 2023
Pekoe and Bnie, Brunel Way, Bristol, March 2023

Some things work so well together, strawberries and cream, Morecambe and Wise, Pekoe and Bnie. These two from the Resting Bitch Face (RBF) crew seem to have a great rapport, which rubs off when they collaborate.

Pekoe, Brunel Way, Bristol, March 2023
Pekoe, Brunel Way, Bristol, March 2023

This pairing was painted alongside Wispa, but I decided to post them separately as these two followed a strict colour scheme. To the left is a really fabulous portrait piece from Pekoe, which includes an upper torso, something of a rarity in her work. The hair is fantastic – I absolutely love this piece.

Bnie, Brunel Way, Bristol, March 2023
Bnie, Brunel Way, Bristol, March 2023

To the right is some outstanding technicolour writing from Bnie, beautifully designed and executed. The piece is totally on point, and I love the clever touch with the outer border, which is pink and white along thee top, and blue and white underneath. This is a nicely thought out and eye-catching piece.

5075. M32 Cycle path (201)

Bnie, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, November 2020
Bnie, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, November 2020

The next few posts are images taken out of my archives. I got distracted. I was actually looking for something specific from roughly December 2020, but then stumbled upon a whole bunch of pieces which had been left behind and that I simply had to publish.

Bnie, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, November 2020
Bnie, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, November 2020

First up is this beauty from Bnie on the cycle path photographed in November 2020. This is not the only unpublished piece by Bnie in my archive, and I will get round to publishing the others at some point. There are some outstanding fills in this piece, and the trademark mouth in the letter ‘B’. I simply can’t think how I let this one slip through the net.