1069. Dean Lane skatepark (81)

A great hold the microphone piece by one of Bristols great writers, Soker. This piece is a little unusual, because Soker usually writes ‘SOKEM’ and I think this is the first picture I have where he has written smething else.

Soker, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2017
Soker, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2017

The colours are ones he has used before and he works the gradient between the colours skilfully with a kind of bubble effect, which is repeated in the deep purple background to the piece. I am not too sure what the piece refers to, there may have been an event or something, or maybe it was just for fun.

1056. Dean Lane skate park (80)

This is a lovely sharp piece of wildstyle writing from visiting artist Mario Messina (MM.Pat). I believe that this Sicilian artist is a tattoo apprentice, who must have been passing through Bristol sometime this summer.

Mario Messina, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2017
Mario Messina, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2017

The letters are beautifully picked out in chrome over a colourful cloudy background. This particular spot is behind a set of high railings, and anything that is sprayed here tends to stay a while because it is a bit of a fag to scale the railings with all your gear. I passed by today, and it is still there. A lovely piece.

1034. Dean Lane skate park (78)

I think I originally archived this one before I had become familiar with the work of either of these artists. The picture, from January 2016, was taken on one of my earlier and infrequent (at that time) sorties south of the river.

Sled One and Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2016
Sled One and Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2016

I like this collaboration between Sled One and Smak, but it is a partnership that I don’t recall seeing too often. The unusual colour palette is shared by both the artists and works well across the whole wall. Obviously I like the Sled One writing, he can do little wrong in my eyes.

Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2016
Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2016

The Smak piece is interesting in that I suspect it is the first of his pieces that I consciously photographed, even though I was not familiar with the artist. I also noticed that I didn’t do a very good job, cropping the edges off either side. I am becoming more familiar with Smak’s work and like what I see. For some unknown reason I was a late adopter with his work.

1024. Dean Lane skate park (78)

This is the second piece that Xenz has sprayed in Dean Lane since Upfest (that I know of), and it is great to see his work here in Bristol. For a time he lived in Bristol and was active alongside Banksy and Inkie. According to his website, he now lives and works in London, so it is extra nice to see his work in Dean Lane…maybe he has moved back.

Xenz, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2017
Xenz, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2017

These beautiful birds perching on telegraph lines are something of a trademark  in many of his works, wildstyle writing or murals. They are full of charm and character, even though they are put together quite simply.

Xenz, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2017
Xenz, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2017

 

1002. Dean Lane skate park (77)

You will notice that this recent series of posts is a bit of a catch up from archives that I have held on to, but can hold on no longer…they all have to see the light of day at some point.

Hire, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2017
Hire, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2017

This is a wonderful jagged bunny by Hire from way back in January, before I knew who the artist was. This piece got left behind. I think I have several more old pieces from Hire and I fully intend to get round to posting them one day.

The green rabbit on the ping background works particularly well I think. You might notice he sprayed this over a Mr Draws piece, one I never saw! The bunny looks as cold as I felt when out walking to take this picture. I am not really looking forward to the inexorable march of Winter. You might notice he sprayed this over a Mr Draws piece, one I never saw!

993. Dean Lane skate park (76)

Going back a bit to before Upfest, Laic217 sprayed this unusual and compelling piece on the curved wall. The black and white piece almost looks like a sketch in a book and he has very cleverly and in an understated way added a little bit of pink and blue to the wall in the character’s glasses giving it that 3D out of focus effect, which he has also applied to his signature.

Laic217, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2017
Laic217, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2017

This is a classy piece and stayed a long while on a wall that gets sprayed over quite frequently. I haven’t seen much in the way of new work from Laic217 – maybe he has gone away for a while, or is taking a graffiti holiday…it happens sometimes.

Laic217, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2017
Laic217, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2017

This piece combines the usual elements we expect to find in a Laic piece. He really has carved out a distinctive and respected style over the last two years or so. More old pieces to come.

992. Dean Lane skate park (75)

This is another fine piece of wildstyle writing from Soge on the long wall at Dean Lane. I believe that Soge is a friend and neighbour to Hire, and is another of the Polish contingent of artists that is making a big impression on the Bristol graffiti art scene at the moment.

Soge, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2017
Soge, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2017

It is interesting that both Soge and Hire have a style that feels rather gothic and jagged – it is different from most of what you see from the established Bristol artists. This piece is vibrant and colourful and fun too – there is a boar’s head lurking between the S and O.

Soge, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2017
Soge, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2017

I expect to see more from Soge – probably at Dean Lane, which seems to be a favoured spot for these artists.

963. Dean Lane skate park (72)

This is the first time I have seen a rabbit and writing from Hire sprayed together at the same time. I think Hire likes to hang out at Dean Lane, as most of his recent pieces have been there. At first I wasn’t too sure that the writing was by Hire, because he usually spells out his name, but the style is his.


At first I wasn’t at all sure what the writing said, but there is a small clue at the bottom of the piece where it says ‘Anna’. Looking back up at the writing, it then becomes obvious. Is this an expression of admiration I wonder?


The rabbit is fantastic as I would expect, I do like his rabbits and am building up quite a collection of them. As a whole, the wall comes across as two discreet pieces, which is often how collaborations work, where two artists will spray together using the same paints, but there is no read-across from one to the other. I like this collaboration with himself.

942. Dean Lane skate park (71)

This is a very quick one from Si2, who also paints as Hull Graffiti. He was in Bristol for Upfest, and had a troubled time spraying the railway carriage down at Ashton Gate – the weather was not kind. Indeed I never got to see the final piece, but will post what I did get in good time.

Si2 (Hull Graffiti), Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2017
Si2 (Hull Graffiti), Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2017

Here he got some kicks by spraying a devilish head, and leaving a little Upfest souvenir. Thank you Si2. Pity it had been a bit dogged by the time I got to it.

924. Dean Lane skate park (70)

Relative new boy, NEVERGIVEUP, is definitely making his presence felt on the streets of Bristol, and although his rabbit designs are becoming familiar, the way he is presenting them is rather dynamic.

NEVERGIVEUP, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2017
NEVERGIVEUP, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2017

This clever piece in Dean Lane skate park is designed to be viewed from the roof of an adjacent swimming pool building. The only problems with this are tricky access and trespass. Apart from that, it is a doddle. I caught up with NGU at Upfest and he said that even he had struggled to take a picture, and got shouted at by an official from the Swimming pool building. He is coming up with some interesting work, and challenging the status quo a little.

NEVERGIVEUP, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2017
NEVERGIVEUP, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2017