Hypo continues in his rich vein of form and is working his colours really hard at the moment, but not in a chaotic or random way, but rather in a considered and thoughtful manifestation.
Hypo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, May 2025
Each of the letters HYPO are given an individual colour scheme with blended tones beautifully worked. The letters are afforded a chunky 3D effect, thanks to the skilfully placed white highlight lines that deceive our eyes. Another fabulous piece in an outstanding and lengthy series of graffiti writing.
It is a great thing that Hypo has made more time for his graffiti writing over the last year or two. His regular appearances, painting the letters HYPO are more than welcome, and he has upped his game considerably over that time.
Hypo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2025
This is another piece in which he uses colour to the maximum, something he is really accomplished at, and he presents his letters with what looks like a water mark running horizontally through the letters. With subtle white highlights, his letters have a superb 3D effect, leaping out from the wall. This is a blinder of a piece.
When I first started out noticing street art in Bristol, and subsequently writing about it, The Carriageworks was my ‘go to’ spot to find some really classy work. Alas, the gentrification of Stokes Croft, eliminated half of the spot, and what remains is rarely painted. How pleasing it was to see this beauty from Hemper, and a piece adjacent to it by Kid Krishna (posted).
Hemper, The Carriageworks, Bristol, April 2025
It took me a couple of attempts to photograph this piece, because the first time I went there was a van partially covering up the writing, but I photographed it nonetheless just to make sure I had it in the can. These pictures are a much cleaner version and really highlight the magnificent of this extraordinary graffiti writing from Hemper, who has been on a roll this spring (a spring roll, if you like🙂). There is so much colour, beautifully blended, and a perfectly painted contrasting blue and black drop shadow. Another masterpiece of graffiti writing from Hemper.
This wall is usually occupied by Dibz or Fade or combination of the two, so it can be refreshing to find something a little different from time to time. I don’t know an awful lot about Mr Sensae, and don’t think I have photographed any of his work before.
Mr Sensae, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2025
This writing, spelling out SENSAE certainly catches the eye with its bright colours, which the artist even acknowledges with the words ‘nice colours’ in the bottom left. Starting with a pink background and decorative spots that provide a great backdrop, the letters are filled with horizontal stripes of colour ranging from orange to blue, and decorated with loads of reversed spots and stars. A striped 3D drop shadow veers off to the right. This is a banging piece of graffiti writing.
I posted a piece by Lezaxer not so long ago, and said at the time that it was one of at least two painted by the artist on a trip to Bristol. It looks like he teamed up with Grimes on this wall, and the pair painted a colour explosion for all to enjoy.
Lezaxer, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, March 2025
I can’t be sure, but it looks like the intricate letters spell LAXER. The fills are exquisite, beautifully decorated in reds and purples. Contrasting with the letters is the deep green spotty 3D drop shadow, which gives enormous depth to the piece. The graffiti writing is beautifully finished with some stylised flame pockets dotted about the place. A banger of a piece.
This is something a little different from Sub, who usually likes to go large and tends to be quite conservative with his use of colour. I am guessing that it might have been a bit of a dregs piece, I also think he is rather fond of newly buffed walls, and this one proved irresistible.
Sub, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2025
He has stuck to his simple three letter formula, with a deep, in this case unfilled drop shadow, but the obvious part of the piece is the splatter of colour throughout, keeping it lively and joyful. Sub continues to paint a lot and is gradually expanding his technique and scope.
Molly Mural, New Bird Street, Liverpool, March 2025
As you will know from yesterday’s post, I recently spent a weekend in Liverpool, and the old ‘graff radar’, which I thought I had turned off, swung into active duty. Not being familiar with the street/graffiti artists in Liverpool, it was comforting to come across this rather nice mural by Molly Mural, who has painted many times in Bristol, where she is based.
Molly Mural, New Bird Street, Liverpool, March 2025
I’m not sure how long the mural has been there, but I guess a while, as some of the paint was chipping. The piece appears to be full of symbolism and stories and is centred around the numbers 1 and 3. The abstract piece is characteristically colourful, and after doing a little Interweb search, it turns out it was inspired by Taylor Swift’s ‘second era’ and her lucky number 13. You live and learn.
Grimes has pretty much made it to the top of my list of Bristol graffiti writers at the moment, taking into account the frequency of his pieces and the outstanding quality of them. Unlike some graffiti writers, his style remains broadly the same, but he manages to squeeze out every square inch of space on the walls he paints and create the most amazing burst of energy and movement.
Grimes, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, March 2025
Colour and quality are two words I would use to open my description of this piece. Every element is in its place and finished perfectly. I particularly like the plasma ribbon running through the whole thing. This piece continues Grimes’ run of good form, which shown no signs of letting up.
Aha! There is a certain consistency and reliability with Nips’ pieces that I am really attracted to. Her letters tend to be similar in shape from piece to piece, but it is in her fills where she really excels and shows off what she can do.
Nips, St Werburghs, Bristol, March 2025
Set on a fairly elementary yellow backdrop, the letters NIPS are filled with a stunning patterned mix of pinks and blues, with some great designs and reversed out spots. The eye is drawn to the female symbol in the dot of the ‘i’, which is assertive and proud. Nips has included a couple of nice shout-outs to Basik and Roma too. I hope we see plenty more of Nips in 2025.
This piece by Hypo, who is on a roll right now, symbolises for me a party. If you wanted to paint the word without spelling the word, this is what it could look like. The fierce is full of energy, colour and joy.
Hypo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2025
The letters spell out Hypo and are full of classical graffiti writing references, such as arrows, drips, starbursts and spots. There is lots here to enjoy, and the overall sense of wellbeing that the piece transmits is palpable. This is another in a series of wonderful pieces from the artist, who has had a great couple of years.