5226. Cumberland Basin

Maybe, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2023
Maybe, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2023

Maybe is an artist who has brought something totally new and fresh to the streets of Bristol over the last couple of years, starting with some very modest interlocking face pieces and now branching out into a large portfolio of creative ideas. This new piece on the Ashton Avenue Bridge, over the River Avon, takes us in another creative direction.

Maybe, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2023
Maybe, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2023

Maybe has painted a view out of a window of an aeroplane wing (in this case, Easyjet), using the shape of the bridge inspection hatch really creatively. It is always great to see street artists incorporating the surrounding elements to augment their work.

Maybe, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2023
Maybe, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2023

Opposite the aeroplane window piece is a more ‘traditional’ offering from Maybe, complementing his work on the inspection hatches at the other end of the bridge. It would appear that Maybe is on a bit of a roll after quite a quiet winter.

5222. Cumberland Basin

Peggy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2023
Peggy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2023

Coincidentally, this stunning floral piece by Peggy is a birthday tribute, and although it was not planned this way, I happen to be posting it on my Wife’s birthday, and that feels good.

Peggy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2023
Peggy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2023

The piece has all the wonderful attributes you would expect from Peggy. Beautiful leaves and petals with some concealed eyes. When I next see Peggy I’ll need to ask her if there is any symbolism involved. I love Peggy’s work, and it brings a different a different element to the Bristol scene.

5221. Cumberland Basin

Lee Roy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2023
Lee Roy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2023

The quickest of quick ones this morning. It is my wife’s sixtieth birthday today, and there is much celebrations to do, and guests to prepare for.

Lee Roy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2023
Lee Roy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2023

Sunny days and a dazzlingly bright piece from Lee Roy, who has been painting a lot lately. He has jazzes this piece up a little with the inclusion of a rather scary cat. Great work, marred only by the sight of a shadow-selfie… it happens sometimes.

5213. Cumberland Basin

Nugmoose, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2023
Nugmoose, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2023

There are many artists in Bristol who have created their own unique stamp or style, but none more so than Nugmoose, whose surreal alien pieces entertain and confuse in equal measure. This is a recent one from the long wall in Cumberland Basin.

Nugmoose, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2023
Nugmoose, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2023

I am not even going to attempt to decipher what is going on in this piece, but it is a mash-up of alien writing, plant-life, hoofed legs and a human face. The whole thing, painted in soft tones, hangs together nicely, and demonstrates so clearly the breadth and depth of street/graffiti art in our city.

5186. Cumberland Basin

Still, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2023
Still, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2023

It is a remarkable thing, but I continue to ‘find’ graffiti writers and street artists, only to discover that they have been around for years and that they just haven’t been on my radar at all. One such artist is Still, who I met about a week ago, and since meeting him I have found two of his recent pieces. How does that work? And how many do I have in my archive?

Still, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2023
Still, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2023

Still is obviously an accomplished writer, and when I met him, he was coaching Maes, another artist I haven’t yet featured on Natural Adventures. This is a very busy piece, spelling out STILL, with a great overall shape and dynamic fills, finished off nicely with a clean red border. Watch this space for more from Still.

5160. Cumberland Basin

Pekoe, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2023
Pekoe, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2023

A weird thing I have noticed about my last three posts is that the three different featured artists’ names all end in ‘OE’. Logoe, Turoe, and in this post, Pekoe. What are the chances of that? We are used to seeing Pekoe’s stylised portraits, but her last couple of pieces have been graffiti writing instead. Perhaps she feels like a bit of a change.

Pekoe, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2023
Pekoe, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2023

I think the most noticeable thing about this piece is the colourful fills in the letters, which are painted in a fairly random and unruly fashion. Features that are common with her portraits are the tears and little diamonds, adding interest. Although I like the fact that Pekoe is doing something different, I do prefer her portraits, which bring out her strengths.

5154. Cumberland Basin

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

If anyone can tell me what is going on here, then I doff my cap to you. Some fabulous anti-style graffiti writing from Taboo with a pink flamingo holding a Halfords bag in its bill, and the words “I’m Champa(i)gn, you… Lambrini”.

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

The colours here are striking without being gaudy, and I have to say I love that red colour, and I think it works very nicely on the light blue background. The whole thing feels slightly anarchic or eccentric – it would be nice if there was a word that meant both of those things – ‘anarcentric’ perhaps. More great stuff from Taboo.

5136. Cumberland Basin

Klashwhensober, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2023
Klashwhensober, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2023

Klashwhensober continues to paint frequently, and in as many spots as he can find. These two pieces are from Cumberland Basin, in slightly different places. The first piece, on a virgin wall, is rather noticeable as it is on the side of one of the buildings that have something to do with the lock gates into the Floating Harbour. Definitely an edgy spot.

Klashwhensober, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2023
Klashwhensober, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2023

I was fortunate enough to catch up klashwhensober while he was painting this rather nice blue piece. Strangely, this was our second encounter in two days, after a long period when our paths didn’t cross at all. We got talking a lot, and it turns out that we have more in common than we might have thought, including attendance at the same school in London, although at completely different times.

Klashwhensober, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2023
Klashwhensober, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2023

The piece itself is fairly straightforward, spelling SOBER with nicely defined letters and plenty of designs in the fills. There are no ‘explosive’ elements in the writing, which has been a bit of a trend recently, but it is nicely done nonetheless.

Klashwhensober, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2023
Klashwhensober, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2023

5108. Cumberland Basin

Peggy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2023
Peggy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2023

For a little while now, Peggy has been brightening up dark corners of our streets with her beautiful floral designs.  This small piece is on the warehouse on the opposite bank of the river facing the Riverside Garden Centre. I don’t wander alongside the warehouse, so am not too sure how long the piece has been there. It is still looking pretty fresh though, however old.

Peggy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2023
Peggy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2023

Peggy’s style is instantly recognisable with its flowing shapes and beautiful tones, more often than not, an eye makes its way into the composition. It is easy to see the crossover between Tattoo art and street art in her pieces. This is a little beauty.

5085. Cumberland Basin

Roo, Cumberland Bain, Bristol, March 2023
Roo, Cumberland Bain, Bristol, March 2023

Naturally, whenever SkyHigh comes to town, Roo will be with him, as they are partners as well as painting partners. This ensures that we receive a double hit of great artwork from two wonderfully talented artists, each time they come to Bristol.

Sky and Roo 0007 5 March 2023_edited
Sky and Roo 0007 5 March 2023_edited

This is a beautifully executed and framed piece from Roo, featuring a dog with a spray can. What I love about Roo’s work is that everything is perfectly finished. There are no rough or blurry edges, no see-through fills, and the composition is always first-class. The cartoon style is perfect for her animal characters, and there is always a sense of fun in her work.

Roo, Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2023
Roo, Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2023

On this occasion, Roo left behind some extras, one of them a few yards away from this piece, another in Dean Lane and a small cat piece in the middle of the M32 roundabout. She and her other half can come back any time they like!

Roo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2023
Roo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2023