6581. Greenbank (143)

Daz Cat, Greenbank, Bristol, November 2024
Daz Cat, Greenbank, Bristol, November 2024

When the Greenbank hoarding is eventually dismantled, I wonder what will happen in the other spots. Will turnover increase, or will some new hoardings become an oasis for graffiti/street artists? I, for one, will miss this place and its colourful gallery. Daz Cat has painted a few memorable pieces here, but this one is a little bit special.

Daz Cat, Greenbank, Bristol, November 2024
Daz Cat, Greenbank, Bristol, November 2024

As with many of Daz Cat’s larger pieces, there is a story unfolding here. A girl, wearing a bird costume, is sitting on a log in a wood, and beside her is a cat spirit. I don’t know what the conversation they are having is about, but it feels earnest and important. There is a lot of spirituality in this colourful and beautifully illustrated piece.

6565. Nine Tree Hill (8)

Kid Krishna and Daz Cat, Nine Tree Hill, Bristol, November 2024
Kid Krishna and Daz Cat, Nine Tree Hill, Bristol, November 2024

Two artists, two very different styles, and not a collaboration from Kid Krishna and Daz Cat. Actually, you could argue that there are three artists represented here, because the background of sunflowers and a swirly sky in a Van Gogh style has been on this wall for a while now, and is by an artist unknown to me.

Kid Krishna and Daz Cat, Nine Tree Hill, Bristol, November 2024
Kid Krishna and Daz Cat, Nine Tree Hill, Bristol, November 2024

To the left, Kid Krishna has painted one of his mega tags, which are simpler than his larger and more complex graffiti writing pieces. These quick throw ups are usually painted using rollers and can by completed in minutes. The letters, in pink, spell out CRIE as with all of his work, although it can sometimes be difficult to decipher. He has selected two very strong contrasting colours, pink and black, for maximum impact.

Daz Cat, Nine Tree Hill, Bristol, November 2024
Daz Cat, Nine Tree Hill, Bristol, November 2024

To the right, Daz Cat has painted one of his cat portraits on the front door of a flat. The gold cat has also been painted in haste, I would suggest, as it is a simple outline and single colour piece. I always like it when he tags his pieces with Caroline, who I guess is his special person. Cats are always most welcome on Natural Adventures.

6502. M32 roundabout J3 (635)

Daz Cat, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024
Daz Cat, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024

Like sentinels guarding the gate to Rivendell, well not exactly, but sentinels nonetheless painted naturally by Daz Cat. The character on the left is definitely a cat, but I am a little unsure about the creature on the right and am going to assume it is a dog. Cats and dogs are appropriate for this spot, because when it rains heavily, this tunnel floods, and you can see it is partially flooded in this picture.

Daz Cat, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024
Daz Cat, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024

Daz Cat has been reasonably quiet this year, but these quick ones have brought him front of mind once again. The cat painted in steel blue tones is looking a little vexed. It is great to see how much depth Daz Cat works into his characters compared to the flat cat portraits he was painting when he started.

Daz Cat, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024
Daz Cat, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024

The dog? portrait on the other side reflects the same colours as the cat and also has a certain amount of depth to it. This is not the first time Daz Cat has painted on either side of the tunnels here. Let me see if I can dig out a previous example…

Daz Cat, M32 roundabout, Bristol, November 2020
Daz Cat, M32 roundabout, Bristol, November 2020
Daz Cat, M32 roundabout, Bristol, August 2019
Daz Cat, M32 roundabout, Bristol, August 2019

6433. Purdown (80)

Daz Cat, Purdown, Bristol, September 2024
Daz Cat, Purdown, Bristol, September 2024

This is my 80th post from Purdown, but if I am honest, it feel like an awful lot more. Daz Cat seems to like it up here and the square format of the concrete blocks seems to suit his designs. It is always far more difficult for writers to fill a square space than for character artists.

Daz Cat, Purdown, Bristol, September 2024
Daz Cat, Purdown, Bristol, September 2024

Daz Cat has painted a cat (naturally) curled up in the square. The blue cat is wearing a fabulous orange striped shirt and shorts combination, and looks really rather cute. The cat is smiling and there is a good feeling all round about this piece. I will never tire of Daz Cats’ cats.

6412. Brunel Way (293)

Daz Cat, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2024
Daz Cat, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2024

My heart sang when I saw this wonderful piece by Daz Cat on the end of the long wall under Brunel Way. It is not the first time he has decorated this spot with a cat, and somehow the space lends itself really well to his upright characters, which I guess is why he paints there.

Daz Cat, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2024
Daz Cat, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2024

In this piece, the androgenous cat is doing a hand stand on top of a globe or water or a toilet seat, or something decorated with clouds. The pants the cat is wearing are hilarious, and the tottering movement of the legs, brilliantly portrayed. This Daz Cat at his fabulous story-telling best.

Daz Cat, Brunel Way, Bristol, March 2022
Daz Cat, Brunel Way, Bristol, March 2022

6269. Dean Lane skate park (739)

Daz Cat, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2024
Daz Cat, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2024

In Dean Lane on the edge of the curved wall, Daz Cat has painted one of his trademark cats, but how his artwork has come on. In recent years, he has worked on and improved, immeasurably, his depth and features, which in his earlier work were rather flat. I guess I am saying that his work has become much more sophisticated. If you look at the image below, you will see what I mean.

Daz Cat, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2024
Daz Cat, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2024

This cheeky cat, sporting a bit of a quiff, is licking his face, something that cats seem to delight in being able to do. While this is a bit of a quick ‘stamp’ it is nonetheless really rather good.

Daz Cat, River Avon, Bristol, June 2018
Daz Cat, River Avon, Bristol, June 2018

6220. Greenbank (128)

Daz Cat, Greenbank, Bristol, July 2024
Daz Cat, Greenbank, Bristol, July 2024

It feels like Daz Cat is pushing all sorts of boundaries at the moment and painting with a freedom in both style and content that is a pleasure to witness. There is a lot going on in this free-flowing story-telling piece in Greenbank.

Daz Cat, Greenbank, Bristol, July 2024
Daz Cat, Greenbank, Bristol, July 2024

I can see a lady surrounded by purple/lilac cats, but the intriguing part of this piece is the two ‘robot’ arms that rather randomly seem to have landed in amongst them and are smoking from the arm sockets. There is a story which is skilfully illustrated, but it is a story belonging very much to the artist – as viewers we can only concoct our own stories. Great work from Daz Cat.

6140. M32 roundabout J3 (585)

Daz Cat, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2024
Daz Cat, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2024

Something happened to Daz Cat while he was travelling in Southeast Asia over the winter. It is almost as if he had an epiphany after which his art has moved on to a new level. A glance at this gallery of his work shows how much he has developed over the years, but this transformation is a bit of a step change.

Daz Cat, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2024
Daz Cat, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2024

Daz Cats work was already becoming more sophisticated, but since returning to the UK there is more fluidity in his work, which is more three dimensional, and he is trying out new things, such as the profile portrait of the girl in this piece. This is an exceptional and original piece of street art, and I think it might be my new favourite by Daz Cat. Whilst I was photographing it, a passer-by who was walking his dog, singled out this piece and said how much he admired it. Keep it up Daz Cat, this is special.

6037. Cumberland Basin

Daz Cat, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2024
Daz Cat, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2024

From what I can gather, Daz Cat has been away for a little while travelling in Southeast Asia, and has recently returned to Bristol not only with some vigour but also with a newfound inspiration that is coming across very clearly in his new pieces, like this one in Cumberland Basin.

Daz Cat, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2024
Daz Cat, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2024

I can’t say I have really seen anything like this from Daz Cat before, it is like his work has taken a significant step change. There is more sophistication and depth to his character portrait, who appears to be a hybrid between a human and a cat. There are some great colours used in this piece, and the hair is just something else. Daz Cat has come a long way, and his journey is getting really interesting.

5749. Purdown (64)

Daz Cat, Purdown, Bristol, December 2023
Daz Cat, Purdown, Bristol, December 2023

I always like finding pieces by Daz Cat, as there is something comforting and very ‘Bristol’ about them. I do miss his rather larger storytelling pieces, which seem to be few and far between these days, but I expect that is because he is otherwise occupied and only has time for his smaller cat characters.

Daz Cat, Purdown, Bristol, December 2023
Daz Cat, Purdown, Bristol, December 2023

This one up at Purdown is a classic piece of Daz Cat artwork. The cat character is looking straight out from the wall with long whiskers and flattened ears (to fit the limited space). The trademark shape on the Cat’s forehead marks this as a Daz Cat piece… no signature necessary. More please in 2024.