6714. Dean Lane skate park (804)

Jevoissoul, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2025
Jevoissoul, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2025

As if it were needed, this combination piece is further evidence that Jevoissoul is on an upward trajectory. Probably the most noticeable aspect of his improvement is the tightness of his work, and by that I mean his lines are clean and his fills tidy. When he first started out, His work felt a little cluttered and hurried, but I don’t get that feeling so much now.

Jevoissoul, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2025
Jevoissoul, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2025

To the left, our familiar character, complete with grimace, appears to be losing his cap, which creates a sense of movement in the piece. Jevoissoul’s artwork is becoming more sophisticated, with a two-tone light/shade aspect to the face. The letters also have a sense of movement, indicated by the black accent lines around the outside. Good colours and nicely blended horizontal strips fill the letters nicely. Perhaps there could be a little bit more interest in the letters themselves, but now I am just being picky.

6703. Dean Lane skate park (803)

ESKA, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2025
ESKA, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2025

I have been incredibly lucky recently with the timing of my walks and have met with several artists while they are painting, even yesterday bumping in to Hemper (second time in a week) and Hypo. On this particular visit to Dean Lane, I encountered ESKA and his partner, just as he was finishing up and taking photographs of the completed piece. What is weird is that I first met him in this exact spot last October.

ESKA, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2025
ESKA, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2025

There is always a lot going on in ESKA’s work, which is filled with symbolism. His anamorphic letters are heavily disguised, and form the framework for some little micro-scenes about the place. Lots of shadows and archways with light, a little reminiscent of the perspective work of the Italian artist Gerogio De Chirico.

ESKA, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2025
ESKA, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2025

The colours work really well together and if you step back the whole piece looks amazing, but it is not until you get up close that you start to notice a whole other world happening, for example there are little figures dotted all over the piece, each one casting a long shadow. This is a piece that needs to be studied as well as admired.

6698. Dean Lane skate park (802)

Inkie, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2025
Inkie, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2025

One of the best Christmas presents I received this year was a signed Inkie print from my wife, who managed to get down to the ‘Pipe and Slippers’ pub, while I was away, and catch up with the artist and some mutual friends. I don’t think that my wife made the link back to me, which is a pity because it all might have made a little more sense to him at the time. The print is a good one, and awaiting framing, along with dozens of other pieces of artwork I have accumulated.

Inkie, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2025
Inkie, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2025

This lovely piece by Inkie is a tribute to an old friend of his Paul ‘Peewee’ Miller, who’d recently died. Inkie mentions on his Instagram that he painted this exact wall, presumably with Peewee, 36 years ago. That is going some.

6694. Dean Lane skate park (801)

I am Ian, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2025
I am Ian, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2025

I have a sense that 2025 is going to be a good one for street art in Bristol. Already January, a month that is traditionally rather slow, has been a very active period with loads of artists hitting the ground running. A signal that we could be in for a treat this year is the early appearance of Kid Crayon and I am Ian in Dean Lane.

I am Ian, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2025
I am Ian, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2025

This skull piece by I am Ian is full of joy and humour. Painted in a mischievous cartoon style, the grinning skull is accompanied by the slogan ‘Here today, gone tomorrow’, which I guess is a brief description of our existence. The character is expertly painted, with some great shading and fine lines to create features and depth. A wonderful way to start the year.

6681. Dean Lane skate park (800)

Lis (Le Imposter Design), Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2025
Lis (Le Imposter Design), Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2025

So it looks like Lis (Le Imposter Design) has found herself some cans (perhaps they were a Christmas present), and given some full-on spray-painting a go. I absolutely love it when artists get a taste for street art and broaden their horizons, and Lis has found the perfect spot for a bit of practise.

Lis (Le Imposter Design), Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2025
Lis (Le Imposter Design), Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2025

Naturally, her subject is still very much mushrooms, but this time without the precision of fine brushes to mark out the detail. When you move on to spray paint, everything has to be scaled up, but I have to say she has done a great job with these eyed fungi. I would think that she has used cans before, because these are nicely painted, and she has a steady hand, but sometimes people are simply naturals. I wonder where Lys will take us next… all aboard!

6677. Dean Lane (799)

Kid Crayon, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2025
Kid Crayon, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2025

It brings me great joy when I come across new Kid Crayon pieces. He has been reasonably quiet over the last couple of years, which in a way is a good thing, because it signals that his work is going well, and being an artist/designer having plenty of work is always a positive.

Kid Crayon, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2025
Kid Crayon, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2025

This wall used to have three alcoves in it, and in fairness, was quite difficult to paint. For whatever reason, the council decided to fill the alcoves with breeze blocks, and I have to say that the unintended consequence was this new long wall, which artists have been enjoying ever since. Kid Crayon has used the full length of the wall to paint his letters in hi favoured pink. Each letter is in a distinct style, where the ‘O’ is a masked character incorporating a floating crayon. A nice tidy piece and great way to start the year.

6646. Dean Lane skate park (787)

Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2024
Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2024

What an honour for Pekoe to have a lovely birthday tribute piece from Smak back in December last year. This is a classic piece of traditional Smak graffiti writing, and reminds me of some of the first pieces I noticed by the artist, many years ago.

Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2024
Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2024

The letters are mostly created by the outlines, and the fills resemble the background, giving them a bit of a transparent look. This piece also picks up on Smak’s current theme of including palm trees and hinting at the tropics. Great work from Smak.

6640. Dean Lane skate park (796)

Peggy, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2024
Peggy, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2024

Tucked away behind the railings and hedge that borders the swimming pool is this charming small floral piece by Peggy. At first I thought it might have been an old piece, because I know she has painted here before, but I am pretty certain that it is new, which is great news, because she hasn’t painted much this year, and I do like her work.

Peggy, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2024
Peggy, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2024

This piece is so typical of her floral work, and it is great to see how she transitions her tattoo designs onto walls. There is symbolism in the piece, the flower has an eye. I am not too sure what it all means, but it is distinctive and curious. I hope Peggy hits the street more often in 2025.

6638. Dean Lane skate park (795)

Mr Draws, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2024
Mr Draws, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2024

I have written this post in advance, because I am taking a break with my family to Marrakesh (apart from my son who jetted off to Thailand yesterday for a couple of months), and I will be busy today with getting ready for the flight, packing etc.

Mr Draws has been smashing it this winter, and when a lot of  ‘fair weather’ artists retreat to the comfort of their homes, Mr Draws has been stepping up to the plate and turning out some lovely, happy pieces.

Mr Draws, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2024
Mr Draws, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2024

This is a large piece, covering up the whole wall, which can easily accommodate two or three pieces, and often does. Mr Draws has filled the space really well, with his bright letter fills set on a skyscape background and some stylised blades of grass running along the base of the writing. Mr Draws has quite a unique style, and I don’t think that the way he paints his pieces is all that conventional either. I really like this one.

6636. Dean Lane skate park (794)

Risky, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2024
Risky, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2024

It feels funny posting this piece by Risky, because it is only the third to have made it onto the pages of Natural Adventures, but I have been photographing his work for at least two years, so I am surprised I haven’t published more. I know little about the artist, and can’t find any socials at all, so until I catch Risky in the act I’ll have to remain ignorant – having said this, I have a nagging feeling that I may have met him a while back, painting under Brunel Way… the old grey matter isn’t what it used to be.

Risky, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2024
Risky, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2024

I love it that Risky, like so many other occasional writers in Bristol, turns up from time to time with a vibrant and colourful piece like this one, that really catch the eye. While this isn’t technically high-end, it has loads of things that I like; some great letter shapes and that strong red colour works really hard; some interesting white highlights that help the letters to pop, and some more subtle red highlights, adding a bit of depth to the letters; finally, a green drop shadow and yellow border. Although not the tidiest piece I have seen, I really like it.