Frazzled

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It’s the constant strain

it drags one into a grump

look up! Weekend soon

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by Scooj

3724. Cumberland Basin

This is another piece from a paint jam in April this year on the long wall at Cumberland Basin. I have posted a couple of pieces from the collaborative wall already, but this one from Bnie is a little gem that I left behind.

Bnie, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2021
Bnie, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2021

I don’t know an awful lot about Bnie and have never had the pleasure of meeting her, but the more of her work I see, the more I like it. The element that she absolutely excels at is the 3D shadow fills, which are usually patterned in a way that few other artists do. It is the part that gives her away, no signature needed. The colour scheme was replicated along the whole length of the wall by all the artists but worked particularly well for Bnie. Always good to see.

3723. M32 roundabout J3 (324)

This gorgeous piece of graffiti writing from Ryder very nearly got left behind in the archives, however I am trying to go back and dig out such lost treasures which is a real challenge due to the sheer volume of street art being painted at the moment.

Ryder, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2021
Ryder, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2021

I haven’t seen too many Ryder pieces lately (until the day before yesterday, that is) but what he lacks in quantity he has more than made up for with quality. Spelling out RYDER, this is a classic piece of writing from the RAW man with five horizontal fills running through the letters and some rather nice black spot decorations. This is a really classy piece, and there is a little shout out to King Robbo which is rather nice.

Taboo

A gallery of outstanding graffiti writing and character pieces from Bristol’s Taboo

All photographs by Scooj

Taboo, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2026
Taboo, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2026

Rowdy, Ryder, Taboo, Sage and Solar, Coronation Road, Bristol, January 2025
Rowdy, Ryder, Taboo, Sage and Solar, Coronation Road, Bristol, January 2025

Taboo, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2025
Taboo, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2025

Taboo, Greenway Bush Lane, Bristol, February 2025
Taboo, Greenway Bush Lane, Bristol, February 2025

Taboo, Dove Lane, Bristol, September 2024
Taboo, Dove Lane, Bristol, September 2024

Taboo, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2019
Taboo, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2019

Taboo, Lower Ashley Road, Bristol, August 2024
Taboo, Lower Ashley Road, Bristol, August 2024

Taboo, M32 cycle path, Bristol, May 2024
Taboo, M32 cycle path, Bristol, May 2024

Taboo, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2024
Taboo, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2024

Taboo, East Street, Bristol, August 2023
Taboo, East Street, Bristol, August 2023

Taboo, M32 cycle path, Bristol, June 2023
Taboo, M32 cycle path, Bristol, June 2023

Taboo, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2023
Taboo, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2023

Taboo, New Stadium Road, Bristol, February 2018
Taboo, New Stadium Road, Bristol, February 2018

Taboo, Nelson Street, Bristol, December 2022
Taboo, Nelson Street, Bristol, December 2022

Taboo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2022
Taboo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2022

Taboo, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, November 2022
Taboo, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, November 2022

Taboo, Trinity Street, Bristol, November 2022
Taboo, Trinity Street, Bristol, November 2022

Taboo, Lower Ashley Road, Bristol, August 2022
Taboo, Lower Ashley Road, Bristol, August 2022

Taboo, Lower Ashley Road, Bristol, August 2022
Taboo, Lower Ashley Road, Bristol, August 2022

Taboo, North Street, Bristol, June 2022
Taboo, North Street, Bristol, June 2022

Taboo, North Street, Bristol, May 2022
Taboo, North Street, Bristol, May 2022

Taboo, North Street, Bristol, May 2022
Taboo, North Street, Bristol, May 2022

Taboo, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2022
Taboo, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2022

Taboo, Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2022
Taboo, Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2022

Taboo, St Werburghs, Bristol, November 2019
Taboo, St Werburghs, Bristol, November 2019

Taboo, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2021
Taboo, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2021

Taboo, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, September 2021
Taboo, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, September 2021

Taboo, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, September 2021
Taboo, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, September 2021

Taboo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, August 2021
Taboo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, August 2021

Taboo, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2021
Taboo, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2021

Taboo, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2020
Taboo, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2020

Taboo, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2020
Taboo, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2020

Taboo, Brunel Way, Bristol, November 2020
Taboo, Brunel Way, Bristol, November 2020

Taboo, Brunel Way, Bristol, November 2020
Taboo, Brunel Way, Bristol, November 2020

Taboo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2020
Taboo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2020

Taboo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2020
Taboo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2020

Taboo, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2020
Taboo, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2020

Taboo, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2020
Taboo, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2020

Taboo, Brunel Way, Bristol, August 2020
Taboo, Brunel Way, Bristol, August 2020

Taboo, Moon Street, Bristol, August 2020
Taboo, Moon Street, Bristol, August 2020

Taboo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2020
Taboo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2020

Taboo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2020
Taboo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2020

Taboo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2020
Taboo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2020

Taboo, M32 cycle path, Bristol, June 2020
Taboo, M32 cycle path, Bristol, June 2020

Taboo, M32 cycle path, Bristol, June 2020
Taboo, M32 cycle path, Bristol, June 2020

Taboo, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2020
Taboo, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2020

Taboo, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2020
Taboo, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2020

Taboo, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2020
Taboo, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2020

Swifts uplifting

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With scimitar wings

slicing through part-clouded skies

summer is complete

.

by Scooj

3722. Sparke Evans Park (6)

This beautiful piece of calligraphic writing is from Todoaciem and a part of a large collaborative wall from an HMR crew paint jam a few weeks back. I have already posted the Dabuten Tronko piece from the same wall, and now it is the turn of Todoaciem.

Todoaciem, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, May 2021
Todoaciem, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, May 2021

The wall itself can be problematic to photograph, because the sun shines through large trees, creating a dappled effect. The only solution is to come early in the morning or on an overcast day, but beggars can’t be choosers, so dappled pictures is what I have.

Set on a green smokey background, which is amplified by the light quality, Todoaciem has written the letters CIEM in the most beautiful font and with a heraldic colour palette. If medieval knights did graffiti, perhaps this is what it would look like. A hugely accomplished and brilliant piece of writing.

3721. St Werburghs tunnel (241)

It would seem that with a little encouragement from Daz Cat, CD.TC has managed to get out and paint a little in the last few weeks, which is great to see, and here the two combine in this rather nice collaboration in the middle of the tunnel.

CD.TC and Daz Cat, St Werburghs tunnel, Bristol, May 2021
CD.TC and Daz Cat, St Werburghs tunnel, Bristol, May 2021

On the left CD.TC’s monster character is spraying upwards to creat the letters CD.TC and on the right a Daz Cat is dipping a piece of pizza into a can of something with GYS on the side. The cat has two left arms, don’t ask me why. I don’t know what GYS stands for in this piece, but a quick Google search revealed it can mean ‘Get your stuff’ or ‘get you some’ or ‘graveyard shift’. You can decide for yourself what you think it might mean in this context. A nice low-key collaboration.

Invisible

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Nobody will know

disappearing is easy

scarcity is key

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by Scooj

3720.Dean Lane skate park (419)

It would seem that Laic217 has found some rhythm to his street work and is painting more regularly no than he was for much of the winter. This portrait of a rather gaunt character is tucked away on the swimming pool wall at Dean Lane, and is modest by Laic217’s standards.

Laic217, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2021
Laic217, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2021

There are some familiar elements in this character piece, but it does seem to mark a departure from skulls and skeletons continuing from his last Dean Lane character. Smoking and an exaggerated mouth gives this character a bit of a menacing look. All good stuff though.

3719. North Street

This is the sixth and final part of the Six Sisters project in North Street, a series of six huge facade murals by six female Bristol artists, organised by Upfest. This final part of the series is by Alex Lucas, who has featured in Natural Adventures numerous times, and a gallery of her work can be found here.

Alex Lucas, North Street, Bristol, May 2021
Alex Lucas, North Street, Bristol, May 2021

This piece is an absolute beauty and brings the series to a great crescendo. Alex Lucas brings her illustration skills to the fore with these three poodles and a pug? In amongst some beautiful flowers and clouds. The vibrancy of the colours was enhanced by the gorgeous weather on the day I took these pictures.

Alex Lucas, North Street, Bristol, May 2021
Alex Lucas, North Street, Bristol, May 2021

The poodles (not my favourite breed if I am honest) are full of life and movement with suitably daft expressions on their faces. They are frolicking amongst the clouds and amazing yellow flowers. The whole thing resembles fancy bespoke wallpaper.

Alex Lucas, North Street, Bristol, May 2021
Alex Lucas, North Street, Bristol, May 2021

When Gemma Compton completed the first of these murals above the Upfest shop in June 2016, I don’t think anyone could have foreseen what a wonder this row of shops would become five years later. Bravo to all the artists and hats off to Upfest for giving the city this amazing landmark.

The 'six sisters' - Bex Glover, Alex Lucas, Zoe Power, Gemma Compton, Sophie Long and Ejits, North Street, Bristol, May 2021
The ‘six sisters’ – Bex Glover, Alex Lucas, Zoe Power, Gemma Compton, Sophie Long and Ejits, North Street, Bristol, May 2021

My posts for the six sisters are listed below:

1. Gemma Compton

2. Zoe Power

3. Bex Glover

4. Sophie Long

5. Ejits

6. Alex Lucas