6990. River Avon (85)

Pl8o, River Avon, Bristol, June 2025
Pl8o, River Avon, Bristol, June 2025

Not every piece that appears on Natural Adventures is necessarily of the highest calibre, but that isn’t really the point. I like to include a representative spread of pieces from low end to high end, from spray paint to wheatpastes and from graffiti writing to portraits. I like to feature it all here, rather than creating something exclusive. The risk, of course, is that not everybody is going to like everything, although there will, I hope, be a broad enough spectrum of artwork here that most people will see something that they like eventually.

Pl8o, River Avon, Bristol, June 2025
Pl8o, River Avon, Bristol, June 2025

I have included this piece from Pl8o, mainly because it has been a very long while since I last saw something from him. This piece isn’t going to set the world on fire, but it has a certain attractiveness to it. The letters are nice and uniform, and painted on a particularly challenging wall surface. I hope it signals a return to more frequent pieces from a graffiti writer I like a lot.

2872. Montpelier bridge

On the footbridge over the railway that divides St Werburghs and Montpelier is this lovely panel piece by Lobe. I had no idea it was here and can’t tell you how old it is, but it looks pretty fresh to me, and if it is old, has weathered pretty well.

Lobe, Montpelier, Bristol, April 2020
Lobe, Montpelier, Bristol, April 2020

I think that finding pieces that you don’t know about is by far the most rewarding for a street art hunter (incidentally a phrase I dislike – it has the ring of ‘trainspotter’ about it), and when it is by an artist you admire that makes it a little more special. Lobe has managed to get the piece to fit the space perfectly, and some thought has gone into it. Great hair and hat. Love the piece… perhaps she should to more here.

2815. Brunel Way bridge (29)

In the rather damp environment under Brunel Way and immediately next to the River Avon, Subtle has painted another splendid piece in one of his favourite spots. There is no need ever to wonder who the artist is with his pieces, because his letters are always legible, clear and bold.

Subtle, Brunel Way, Bristol, March 2020
Subtle, Brunel Way, Bristol, March 2020

I like his colours used here and the alternation of outline from black to white on each of the letters. I am not too sure what OPEX refers to… time for a quick Google search… OK it is operational expenditure, but I don’t think that is what Subtle is referring to here. I think it is definitely time for a Subtle gallery, don’t you?

2426. Cumberland Basin

Even though I have heard of Acerone, I think that this is the first piece of his that I have knowingly seen. He paints with this fabulous photograffiti style and the wall that he has painted this amazing Clifton suspension bridge on would pretty much have this view were it not for all the concrete in the way.

AcerOne, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, August 2019
AcerOne, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, August 2019

Acerone is busy with family and art projects so does not paint walls too much these days, but I have a feeling that painting this wall might well get him back into the groove. I certainly hope so, because this is a real stunner and sits at the top table of Bristol Street art this year.

Bridge

 

Crossing the divide

where glacial meltwater

cuts ever seawards.

 

by Scooj

Clifton suspension bridge

 

Spanning two high cliffs

suspended in time and space

Brunel’s finest bridge.

 

by Scooj

145. Redland Road

I am always taken by this amazing and simple stencil on a railway bridge in Redland. The image of a baby’s face by an unknown artist is stencil work in its most raw form. One also has to admire the artist’s determination at spraying in such locations. Do they drop down from the railway, or climb up from a ladder?

Unknown artist, Redland Road, Bristol, December 2015
Unknown artist, Redland Road, Bristol, December 2015

I love this stripped-back simple graffiti.

7.5/10