When I saw this piece in the Chalk Farm housing estate I instantly recognised the artist as Jerry Rugg or Bird0. He painted a fabulous piece for Upfest 2016, which is still there and looks like it will remain permanently.
Jerry Rugg, Chalk Farm, London, November 2017
Bird0 has a great skill for fusing abstract shapes and designs with wildlife forms to create these otherworldly creatures. His pieces are characterised by the use of bright vibrant colours, lots of oranges and yellows.
Jerry Rugg, Chalk Farm, London, November 2017
This is a spectacular piece, but I had limited access to it, and took the pictures through some railings. I couldn’t work out how to get the other side and I was unsure about whether I was permitted to be there in the first place. I will go beck again and get some better shots.
This is a wonderful collaboration that I saw in Hawley Mews, Camden Town during last summer. There is a great post about the piece from the London calling blog, which perhaps more articulately describes the works than I might be able to do.
Alice Pasquini, Hawley Mews, Camden Town, September 2016
The girl and cheetah are by Alice Pasquini, an Italian artist from Rome, who has worked in many great cities all over the world. Her work, which often features portraits and uses light pastel shades, reminds me a lot of Hannah Adamasek’s work. There is a serenity and calmness in this piece.
Alice Pasquini, Hawley Mews, Camden Town, September 2016
The desert foxes by Himbad and Marina Zumi add a little humour to the collaboration. There is not a lot of information about Himbad, although lots of his work is posted on various websites. It would appear that he is based in London. His fox looks rather mischievous, which is pretty much in keeping with the other faces he sprays on the streets of London.
Himbad, Hawley Mews, Camden Town, September 2016
Marina Zumi presents us with an altogether softer and kinder looking desert fox. Marina Zumi lives and works in Sao Paolo and is perhaps more used to working large walls. She paints fairy tail animals, often at dusk or nightfall when the magic comes. You can read more about her work here.
Himbad and Marina Zumi, Hawley Mews, Camden Town, September 2016
It was a real pleasure to see this collaboration. Just one of the rewards for wandering around without any plan or map…psychogeography at its best.
Another wonderful piece from the summer when I took a trip to Camden Town. This work by Dan Kitchener ticks all the boxes as far as I am concerned. A colourful wet street scene with cars and umbrellas demonstrating the amazing talent of this street artist.
Dan Kitchener, Hartland Road, Camden Town, September 2016
As discussed previously when posting about Dan Kitchener pieces, it is all in the detail. From a distance the piece looks a bit busy and confused. But take a closer look, and the picture takes over.
Dan Kitchener, Hartland Road, Camden Town, September 2016
Crowds of pedestrians going about their business lit by the bright neon signs and street lighting, and the cars on the right hand side of the mural, blurred as they speed along. The perfect street mural so atmospheric.
Dan Kitchener, Hartland Road, Camden Town, September 2016
Those of you who who have read this blog before will probably recognise this piece instantly as the work of Osch. This is one of a series of works characterised by a frame of an orange/yellow circle with some kind of scene, usually silhouetted going on inside the circle.
Osch, the Stables, Camden Town, September 2016In this case it looks like the character is Guido Fawkes, although exactly what story the piece is telling I am not so sure. The other trademark style used by Osch is using painted ribbons to create the illusion of solid forms as can be seen from the face of Guido. He uses this technique to great effect in his rhinoceros piece nearby.
Osch, the Stables, Camden Town, September 2016Another compelling piece by this adopted son of London.
I really did enjoy my recent tour of Camden Town, and one of the first pieces I saw was this lovely Dan Kitchener work in a tiny car park area off the Kentish Town Road. The three walls were festooned with street art, but this piece had pride of place along the entire length of one wall.
Dan Kitchener, Kentish Town Road, Camden, September 2016Whenever I see Dan Kitchener’s works I am reminded of the book by Judith Kerr, ‘the tiger who came to tea‘. I can’t really explain why, but there is a street picture in the book which I think of every time I see Dan’s work.
Dan Kitchener, Kentish Town Road, Camden, September 2016I can’t really get enough of his extraordinary murals, which is a good thing really, because they are everywhere…more to come soon.
Continuing for a little while with my Camden adventure, just around the corner, from the Fanakapan flies was this amazing rhinoceros by Osch. Both Osch and Fanakapan are unbelievably prolific. Hardly a week goes by without one or both of them creating something new.
Osch, Hawley Street, Camden, September 2016
In this piece, Osch uses his unfurling ribbon style to create the illusion of a solid creature, which is clever as painting itself could be considered to be an illusion. Layers. The rhino is superb, and reminds us (it’s function) about the plight of these creatures in the wild.
Osch, Hawley Street, Camden, September 2016
Rounding off the picture, and something that is a part of photographing street art, is the context of the piece, and in this particular piece there are some discarded flower pots that somehow add to the whole scene. A street art photographer’s dilemma is always to balance the perfect clean image, with the actual image in its context. I, like others, try to get both…but parked cars are a real menace!
These pictures were taken when I had a couple of hours to kill in London after work recently, and I am really pleased with the ground I managed to cover in Camden. Although my sister went to school nearby, and I often drove through the area in my younger days, I haven’t been back for years.
Fanakapan, Hawley Mews, Camden, September 2016
I knew that the area is a favourite for street artists and graffiti artists, but I had no idea about the layout of the streets or what could be found where, so I just started to wander – my favourite thing.
Fanakapan, Hawley Mews, Camden, September 2016
I eventually happened upon this incredible mews, running parallel with one of the busier streets, but hidden away (note – always seek out alley ways and back streets). The reward for my explorations was this magnificent Fanakapan mural of flies (of course the helium balloon type).
Fanakapan, Hawley Mews, Camden, September 2016
This work is exceptional, not only the flies, but the perspective on the walls and shadows cast. A masterpiece and a privilege to find it and photograph it. There were loads of other pieces in this mews and I will in time post about them too.
Natural adventures 