Tag: Cumberland Basin

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

5080. Cumberland Basin

SkyHigh, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2023
SkyHigh, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2023

Back to the here and now, I bring you this magnificent large piece from the visiting SkyHigh. Although it was only painted a few days ago, it has already been painted over, which I have to say I find a little disrespectful, but I guess most graffiti writers don’t know how long the piece they are overpainting has been there. Some though are resentful and malicious and deliberately target work superior to their own to exert some kind of childish power… when that happens we are all losers.

SkyHigh, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2023
SkyHigh, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2023

Sky High has absolutely nailed his style of writing, choosing different block styles for each letter of the word. He also manages to keep everything so clean and tight, even down to the white frame for this piece.

SkyHigh, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2023
SkyHigh, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2023

The colour selections are great and there is an element of symmetry in their deployment. I particularly like the style of the ‘Y’, which I think is probably the most challenging letter technically in the piece. I’m already looking forward to his next visit to Bristol (with Roo, of course).

5066. Cumberland Basin

Marckinetic, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2023
Marckinetic, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2023

I’ve not posted much from Marckinetic for a while, and that might be because he tends not to paint all that regularly. I might have missed a recent piece in the tunnel, but will have to correct that omission.

Marckinetic, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2023
Marckinetic, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2023

This is a typical piece from Marckinetic writing in his unique style, set on a cosmic backdrop. I would like to think that his letters spelled out Mark, but I really don’t know, and I haven’t yet met him to ask. The pink arrow features on either side frame the piece really well, and you can imagine that the piece would be poorer without them. These ‘extras’ are what sets people above the ordinary.

5054. Cumberland Basin

Werm, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, February 2023
Werm, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, February 2023

I haven’t seen a character piece from Werm for quite a while, so it was really great to find this one in the little tunnel at Cumberland Basin. Werm has definitely been concentrating on his writing, which has been going from strength to strength, but I have to say that I miss his characters, because they brought something a little different to our streets.

Werm, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, February 2023
Werm, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, February 2023

In this piece, Werm hasn’t entirely dispensed with his letters. The skull makes up the letter ‘R’ in the three-letter acronym LRS – an international crew that Werm belongs to, called Last Radical Souls. The shading work on the skull and letters is beautifully executed, and the white border is nice and sharp. This is another great piece by Werm.

5050. Cumberland Basin

Lee Roy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, February 2023
Lee Roy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, February 2023

It feels like Lee Roy is a man in a hurry. I haven’t seen much from him over the last couple of years and now all of a sudden his work is appearing all over the city and it is difficult to keep up. This is a recent one on the long wall at Cumberland Basin.

Lee Roy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, February 2023
Lee Roy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, February 2023

Lee Roy likes to paint his letters in a rather unconventional style, verging on anti-style. The letters are beautifully designed, but unruly and unfettered. There is scope for the artist to do whatever he likes, and he does. Weirdly, some kind of order is restored with the inclusion of a strand of barbed wire running through the piece. This is a really imaginative, creative and curious piece from Lee Roy. Watch this space for a whole bunch more from him.

5038. Cumberland Basin

Mote, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, February 2023
Mote, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, February 2023

Another day and another monster character from Mote, although this one is a little different from his others. I am guessing that this is a representation of a jellyfish kind of creature, and the wobbly border line would probably confirm this.

Mote, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, February 2023
Mote, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, February 2023

Unusually, Mote has signed this piece and I can’t think of any other occasion when he has done this, so that comes as a bit of a surprise. If I am honest, I’m not sure that the wobbly line thing works too well, but it is great to see the artist experimenting and stretching himself. Another one for the menagerie.

5035. Cumberland Basin

Nightwayss, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, February 2023
Nightwayss, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, February 2023

The monkeys are back – at least for a fleeting moment. This piece was painted by Nightwayss, who recently returned to Bristol for a visit and kindly left us this reminder of the talent that we lost last year. It is always good when artists return the their former home city and drop a piece.

Nightwayss, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, February 2023
Nightwayss, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, February 2023

Even the dog was pleased to see this graffiti writing piece. The departure of Nightwayss has left a hole in the street art scene and the PWA crew that he used to enjoy painting with. I hope that this will be the first of many return trips.

Nightwayss, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, February 2023
Nightwayss, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, February 2023

The piece spells out NIGHT in a nicely selected palette of blue pink and red colours, but it is the monkey that continues to steal the show for me. I do miss them.