7818. Cumberland Basin

Fade and Dibz, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2026
Fade and Dibz, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2026

When Fade and Dibz get together, magic happens. It is so easy to get blasé about their work, because we see it so frequently in Bristol and forget that these two writers are at the very top of their game. The precision of their work is extraordinary and at the very highest level.

Fade, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2026
Fade, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2026

This collaboration shows off their talents as wildstyle graffiti writers. To the left, in ‘fruit salad’ yellow and pink colours Fade has written his letters with three horizontal stripes, with complete confidence and competence. Great writing.

Dibz, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2026
Dibz, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2026

On the right, Dibz has also adopted slightly different ‘fruit salad’ colours nicely blended in horizontal strips and with a deep 3D drop shadow in black and nicely finished with some purple bubbles at the top. As a pair of pieces, it all feels so effortless, but that comes with the unconscious competence of years of graffiti experience.

7812. Cumberland Basin

Sled One, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, June 2026
Sled One, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, June 2026

This is an amazing cartoon portrait piece that not only shows off Sled One’s technical skills, but also reveals his extraordinary imagination and creativity. The piece is set on a pink background and the grass in front of the wall is still green, which dates this piece to before July.

Sled One, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, June 2026
Sled One, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, June 2026

The blue-faced man in a green jacket with beautiful folds, is having a lightbulb moment. But this lightbulb moment is more literal than usual, with his scalp tilted upwards revealing a characterful lightbulb where his brain should be. There is so much detail in the piece, and those sunglasses simply have to be admired. Surreal creativity at its best.

 

7789. Cumberland Basin

Mesk, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2026
Mesk, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2026

A quick jaunt back to May this year. Somehow this beauty by Mesk got left behind in my archives. Actually this year, more than ever before, I have struggled with the volume of artwork on the streets and what appears here on Natural Adventures is only a fraction of what I have seen and photographed.

Mesk, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2026
Mesk, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2026

This is a wonderful colourful piece from Mesk, with colours arranged in vertical strips and with lines that give a subtle ‘barcode’ effect. The icy blue drop shadow is gentle with some nice curves to it, and Mesk has finished off the work with some faux drips along the bottom. This piece is so easy on the eye, and rather satisfying.

7778. Cumberland Basin

Turoe, Jody and Fade, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, June 2026
Turoe, Jody and Fade, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, June 2026

I’m not sure what the occasion was, but it doesn’t really matter when three such accomplished artists come together. The triptych combination collaboration is by Turoe on the left, Jody in the middle and Fade on the right.

Turoe, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, June 2026
Turoe, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, June 2026

Turoe has been a little more active of late which is great to see, and it might signal an improvement in his health which I understand has been a challenge for him in recent years. This is a gorgeous piece of graffiti writing, which with its white and grey fill, gives the impression of being reflective chrome or other metal. A decent red drop shadow lifts the letters above the dark velvety purple background.

Jody, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, June 2026
Jody, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, June 2026

Any reference to Star Wars is always welcome on these pages and this outstanding portrait of Darth Maul by Jody is top drawer stuff. (note to self – prepare a Star Wars gallery). Jody has captured the character perfectly and manages to convey his attitude and menace. The background of the planet Mustafar works well with Darth Maul’s lightsabre

Fade, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, June 2026
Fade, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, June 2026

Fade had a quiet winter, but now that the weather is fine (almost too fine) he has been out and about more frequently. This classy bit of wildstyle graffiti writing is vibrant and full of movement augmented by the squiggly border. Some nice transitions in the fills with reversed bubbles appears to have been applied with such ease. None of this is easy, and these three artists are at the top of their game.

7773. Cumberland Basin

Taboo, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, June 2026
Taboo, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, June 2026

This is a brilliant piece of anti-style graffiti writing from Taboo, which demonstrates clearly how interconnected and varied the art world is. The piece is a touching tribute to David Hockney, whose own unconventional style won over the public’s imagination and whose legacy will forever influence artists worldwide.

 

Taboo, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, June 2026
Taboo, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, June 2026

Taboo’s unconventional green letters sit on a pink background, but it is the scene inside the second ‘O’ that steals the show. There is a little pastiche of a swimming pool and diving-board, a theme so familiar in many of Hockney’s paintings. Such a lovely idea and tribute to pay. Bravo!

7766. Cumberland Basin

Ments, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, June 2026
Ments, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, June 2026

You can wait an awfully long time for a Ments piece, and then out of nowhere, two come along in quick succession. Following on from his superb Upfest piece, Ments has painted this gentle colourful beauty on the long wall in Cumberland Basin.

Ments, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, June 2026
Ments, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, June 2026

Preparation can be everything for some pieces, and the lilac wall is a perfect starting point for this abstract piece of graffiti writing. The subtle colours are arranged to create a crystalline appearance with any hard edges softened with some skilful blending. The whole piece probably says MENTS, but even if it doesn’t the overall effect is one of calm.

7756. Cumberland Basin

RBN One, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2026
RBN One, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2026

Although he has only relatively recently come onto my radar, RBN One, who writes ARBIEN has been smashing it with his incredibly colourful and dynamic pieces of graffiti writing. I don’t know whether he is painting more often, or whether I am noticing his pieces more, but whatever the reason, it is all good news.

RBN One, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2026
RBN One, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2026

This writing is filled with the tried and tested combination of pinks and blues, which work so well together. The fill patterns and designs are beautifully varied through the letters, with spots, blocks, drips and cracks liberally dispersed across the piece. Classy work from RBN One.

7741. Cumberland Basin

Werm, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2026
Werm, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2026

Werm is going through something of a purple patch lately, and I am really enjoying his ‘next level’ pieces. As his style develops and evolves he is growing in confidence and technical ability. I think that he is also discovering that sometimes less is more, and that clarity of presentation pretty much trumps all else.

Werm, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2026
Werm, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2026

In this piece of graffiti writing, Werm has written his name into a kind of symmetrical diamond shape, partially framed on a light blue rectangle. The red colour stands out nicely on the turquoise background. A neat and tidy piece that shows off Werm’s talent well.

7738. Cumberland Basin

Mind 49, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2026
Mind 49, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2026

Mind 49, as I mentioned in a recent post of his work, has moved into a new groove, in which he is presenting portraits, where only the eyes and nose are visible, while the rest of the face is obscured behind a cover of colour/patterns/designs, as if wearing a balaclava.

Mind 49, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2026
Mind 49, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2026

There is a clever and deliberate juxtaposition between the photorealism of the exposed parts of the face, and the rather childish and scruffy elements around it. The daisies seem to be a particular favourite theme for Mind 49 at the moment, and here he has included a couple of small captions: “Cut and run” and “Sometimes don’t do it”.

I may be way off the mark here, but I can’t help feeling that this presentation style demonstrates a touch of modesty or even a lack of confidence. Mind 49 is more than capable of painting excellent portraits, but it feels like this ‘self-harming’ of his work is masking something else, almost coming across as imposter syndrome. It is, having said all of this, very unusual, challenging and creates a great talking point.

7222. Cumberland Basin

Tizer, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2026
Tizer, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2026

I haven’t seen a piece by London graffiti writer Tizer for a very long time, so it was great to come across this one on the long wall recently. The piece was painted as part of a paint jam that included ARSA, Minto and RBN One amongst others.

Tizer, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2026
Tizer, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2026

The combination piece features his TIZER letters bookended by a pair of characters, one liking rather sweet and the other ghoulish and sinister. Tizer’s style isn’t crisp and clean, but rather more detailed and brush-strokey if you know what I mean. A very nice surprise from the occasional visitor.