6559. Dean Lane skate park (784)

Noise, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2024
Noise, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2024

Noise has been one of the most regular Bristol writers in 2024, turning out numerous distinctive fat-letter pieces all over town. This is a particularly nice one on the curved wall in Dean Lane. If you like his work, then a quick look at this recently published gallery of his graffiti writing might be worthwhile.

Noise, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2024
Noise, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2024

The letters spelling out NOISE, although in darker colours with a dark background, are bursting with energy. The two tones of green work surprisingly well with the dark purple/black backdrop. Although I am sure it is unintentional, the ‘i’ resembles a nose, and weirdly if you take the ‘i’ out of noise, you get nose. Having seen the nose, you can’t unsee it. Nice one from Noise.

6554. Dean Lane skate park (783)

Dibz and Ceus, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2024
Dibz and Ceus, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2024

A little while ago, this fine collaboration between Dibz and Ceus appeared on the long wall at Dean Lane. I believe the mulsh for buffing the background was supplied by Ceus, which makes me think that this might not have been a planned collaboration, but rather a serendipitous one.

Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2024
Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2024

On the left, Dibz has painted some nice clean and uncomplicated letters in chrome, spelling out his name. Some little black details at the foot of each of the letters adds a little bit of interest. The blue tint surrounding the letters has a cool glow which works really well.

Ceus, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2024Ceus, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2024

It has been great to see that Ceus is painting a little more frequently these days and this piece is characteristically colourful. Although the letters are filled in part with a warm orange colour, the piece overall has an icy cold look and feel. As ever beautifully painted letters. This is a nice collaborative wall.

6549. Dean Lane skate park (782)

Pekoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2024
Pekoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2024

Prompted by the racist riots (#farageriots) earlier this year, Pekoe initiated this series of pieces, which present a complete rejection of racism and fascism in a cool and humorous way. I love it that Pekoe expresses herself in this way and in doing so helps people like me to know that I am not alone in feeling sadness at the lurch to the far right many citizens of the UK have made.

Pekoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2024
Pekoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2024

The combination piece features a Pekoe portrait, and the words “hot girls hate fascists”. The colours yellow and purple are an interesting combination, and they are actually colour opposites on a colour wheel. I love this series from Pekoe, and I hope she drops more of them… as she says, lest we forget.

6547. Dean Lane skate park (781)

Pura Decadencia and Desi, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2024
Pura Decadencia and Desi, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2024

This collaboration between Pura Decadencia and Desi is a sight for sore eyes, especially as neither artist seems to be painting very frequently at the moment. The glistening silver (chrome) and gold appearance is especially dazzling in the bright light of an autumn afternoon.

Pura Decadencia, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2024
Pura Decadencia, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2024

Pura Decadencia is a Spanish artist who appears to have settled in Bristol, along with so many of her contemporaries, which is great news for us. Her typically rounded letters are well presented, and no Pura Decadencia piece is complete without  big lips and vampire fangs drawing blood somewhere on the piece.

Desi, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2024
Desi, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2024

Desi, who more commonly writes VEIL these days, has had quite a quiet year, but she is making up for it with this piece. Both artists have not only adopted the same colour scheme, but also used the same black patterning at the base of their letters. The shares bubble background rounds off the collaboration nicely.

6544. Dean Lane skate park (780)

Hire and Zake, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2024
Hire and Zake, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2024

I really like Zake’s enthusiasm for teaming up with any and pretty much every graffiti/street artist in the city. It is probably easier to list those he hasn’t painted with. Here he has teamed up with Hire to create this interesting combination collaboration.

Hire, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2024
Hire, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2024

The writing on the left is by Hire and takes the form of his spiky angular letter style The letters, spelling HIRE and painted in a grey colour with rouge tints, has a hint of symmetry about it. I fear that the dark blue background rather dominates the piece and makes it a little hard to pick out the lettering, which would probably look better set on a different base colour.

Zake, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2024
Zake, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2024

Zake has painted another of his familiar round-face characters, so full of depth created by clever use of light and shade. The red underglow is so effective. The face is surrounded by plumes of smoke and white dots. The two pieces, although stylistically completely different, complement each other well.

6532. Dean Lane skate park (779)

Stivs, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2024
Stivs, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2024

This post is written in haste. By the time I publish it, I will be in the Derbyshire countryside looking at a beaver release scheme. The reintroduction of beavers in the right places is a huge asset for local communities. The dams create wetlands, slowing the effects of flooding downstream, and during droughts the water retention where beavers live create oases where all around has dried up and withered, and for the nature lovers, who doesn’t love having beavers back in the English countryside?

Stivs, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2024
Stivs, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2024

This outstanding piece, by Stivs, is another of his epic character pieces. I don’t know who the character is, and a Google search has thrown up nothing. The character is painted in beautiful colours and has come together perfectly, with some sideways on perspective too. Alongside the robot (is it a robot?) are the words ‘Kill all humans’ which isn’t very friendly. The piece has survived pretty well, on a wall with a high turnover, and was still there when I last checked a couple of days ago. Great work from Stivs.

6527. Dean Lane skate park (778)

Nice One, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2024
Nice One, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2024

This is a fabulous Halloween combination piece from Nice One, and one of a series of outstanding artworks from this most modest of artists. I think that the font he uses contrasts so well with all around it, creating a fresh look in amongst all the styles and fonts we get used to.

Nice One, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2024
Nice One, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2024

The portrait of the Joker is brilliantly reproduced and suitably menacing, perfect for Halloween. I love the way that Nice One has only hinted at his letters, with most of them obscured or falling outside the frame. There is simply so much to enjoy from Nice One’s work at the moment… long may it last.

6513. Dean Lane skate park (776)

Mr Draws, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2024
Mr Draws, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2024

Whales have been quite a common theme in Mr Draws’ artwork, both in the studio and on walls big and small. I guess that these large mammals are representative of the threats and opportunities for our planet, and something I know Mr Draws cares a lot about. This piece combines his writing with nature, a concept I wholly endorse.

Mr Draws, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2024
Mr Draws, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2024

The letters DRAWS provide a backdrop for the blue whale character and some greenery. It was painted as part of a Halloween paint jam and there is plenty of symbolism in the piece, where the underlying message is that if you meddle with nature we are walking down the path of doom. Cheery huh? Great stuff from the thoughtful Mr Draws.

6507. Dean Lane skate park (775)

Sled One, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2024
Sled One, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2024

Sled One has made a few appearances on Natural Adventures recently, but this Halloween piece, painted on 30 October, trumps the lot of them. It isn’t often that this whole wall is painted – lots of ladder-work, so when it is you can expect something pretty special.

Sled One, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2024
Sled One, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2024

The piece is painted on a jaunty angle, which is unsettling in itself. The backdrop is a gloomy street scene, with cars dimply lit under some street lights. The star of the piece is the scary pumpkin character, the unconventional shape of which adds to the sense of unease and edge. Shaped like a skull, the melting pumpkin face is dropping seeds like teeth falling out, and resembles the lanterns left out to rot after the Halloween festival itself. A wicked piece that doesn’t give in to the sentimental portrayal of a pumpkin, but turns it into an evil protagonist.

6500. Dean Lane skate park (744)

Astrea (HNH), Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2024
Astrea (HNH), Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2024

Astrea, formerly known as HNH, first came on to my radar at the Muriel Alleyway mini street art festival earlier this year where she decorated a garage shutter with her striking and unusual style. Astrea’s designs are intricate and hint at letters, although it is the overall effect that is king. In this piece, you can make out the letters HNH.

Astrea (HNH), Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2024
Astrea (HNH), Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2024

I am very much enjoying seeing her work popping up around the place, but sadly have missed the boat on two pieces, one under the M32 and the other in Peel Street Green, where I arrived a day too late, which was gutting. This modest black and white piece is painted on one of the skate ramps and makes a statement albeit quietly.