Two outstanding writers, Dibz and Turoe, have recently combined to create this wonderful tribute piece for Shimmer. I suspect that the piece may remain for quite some time due to both its quality and also that it is a tribute. This is a collaboration in which both artists have adopted a similar writing style and both are using the exact same colour scheme seamlessly.
Dibz and Turoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2023
To the left is the Dibz half of the collaboration, spelling out SHIMZ and to the right is Turoe’s contribution spelling TUROE. The green and yellow writing is as clean as a whistle and the whole thing set on a bubbly purple background – most eye-catching. In the middle of the piece is a Vaughn Bode lizard character, so much favoured by street artists in honour of the great man’s creations. This is a very, very fine tribute.
Dibz, Rusk and Shade One, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2023
Three of Bristol’s best artists have come together to paint this outstanding collaboration in Dean Lane. Dibz, Rusk and Shade One are not strangers to this wall, but they have absolutely smashed it on this occasion, in a touching tribute to Shimmer (Shimz).
Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2023
On the left is a gorgeously perfect chrome piece by Dibz, which could equally well spell DIBZ or SHIMZ (I wonder if the ambiguity was deliberate). Everything about this is on-point, and there is a rather nice little SHIMZ shout-out in the top left.
Rusk, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2023
Rusk and Shade One have been busy in this spot lately, and I think this is the third collaboration they have enjoyed this year. I don’t really need to tell you how much I admire Rusk’s work. He is one of the most meticulous artists in Bristol, and will always strive to ensure his work is flawless. There is a lovely yellow pattern in this piece that flow seamlessly across the letters.
Shade One, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2023
Finally, the portrait piece on the right by Shade One is, I assume, depicting Shimmer, as the Shimz RIP in the top corner would suggest. The greyscale photorealistic portrait is one of Shade One’s best to date, and the bar is pretty high. The collaboration is a fabulous one, and it will be a brave person indeed who is the first to paint over it.
Dibz, Rusk and Shade One, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2023
Photographed under challenging light conditions, this outstanding piece by Dibz carries all the signature elements that identify it as one of his. For example, the overall diamond shape within which the whole piece sits, the perfect borders and solid 3D drop shadows… and of course the signature and shout out to Turoe (the birthday boy).
Dibz, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, June 2022
The colour selection too is close to perfection, not only in the way the colours battle for attention, but also where exactly those battles take place, bringing a focus to certain parts of the work. This is writing of the highest calibre and a sight for sore eyes. One of the best from one of the best.
Dibz and Acer One, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2022
Two of the greats of the contemporary street art scene in Bristol, Dibz and Acer One, have come together to create this magnificent collaborative wall in Deal Lane. You could hardly get two more contrasting styles of writing side-by-side – perhaps the inclusion of someone like Stivs or Mudra might just do it.
Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2022
Set on a buffed duck-egg blue wall, Dibz has painted one of his outstanding wildstyle pieces, which would normally spell DIBZ, but in this case it says EVIE. Using the tried and tested pink and blue (lilac) combination for the letters, Dibz has contrasted it with little yellow/orange squares, which personally speaking, I don’t think work very well with the background wall colour, and leaves me feeling a little queezy.
Acer One, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2022
To the right, Acer One, who I was fortunate enough to have a long chat with yesterday in the tunnel, has also written something different. The name TOBY is the focus of this piece, which was a birthday tribute piece for his son. What better present could a person wish for? Some great colours in the letters, and the customary double shadow together create an amazing 3D effect, with the letters really standing out from the wall. Happy belated birthday, Toby.
As well as being a fabulous graffiti writer, Dibz also recreates beautifully worked characters, and he has excelled with this Halloween piece recently in Dean Lane. The whole thing is a cleverly devised mash up of Groundskeeper Willy from the Simpsons and Freddy Krueger from A Nightmare on Elm Street.
Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2022
The festive work is a belter and another example of just what an exceptional graffiti writer Dibz is. The Krueger jumper is reflected in the letters of the piece lifted with a purple 3D drop shadow. Another clever detail is the way Willy’s rake is a direct reference to Krueger’s creepy glove. A brilliantly conceived piece, perfectly executed.
Jody and Dibz, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, September 2022
Sparke Evans Park plays host to so many stunning collaborations, something that has developed in recent years, and I think it is favoured by artists because there isn’t much tagging and pieces tend to stay intact for a while. I have heard that the police are showing a little interest in the spot, and that spraying isn’t quite as straightforward as it has been historically.
Jody, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, September 2022
This pairing of Jody and Dibz has turned up a very special and captivating wall. The portrait of Goldie is by Jody, and absolutely captures the artist perfectly. It is interesting to see how Goldie is becoming quite a strong influence on the Bristol scene at the moment.
Dibz, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, September 2022
The writing from Dibz is, as you would expect, close to perfection. I am not entirely spectra in what the letters spell out, but I am sure that Paul H will be able to help me with this.
Another short one today as I am late getting my fishing gear together.
This piece is a classic, classy and colourful piece of wildstyle graffiti writing from Dibz, on the end wall, home to countless brilliant pieces in the past. In my mind’s eye, this piece feels a bit like an ‘audition’ piece, technically brilliant and beautifully designed, but without a theme or backstory.
Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2022
Dibz has set the bar so high for writers in Bristol, and would suggest that it has had a knock-on effect, where it seems that the vast majority of writers strive to improve and perfect their letters and styles. With inspiration like this to draw on, who wouldn’t want to aspire to it?
Collaborative walls don’t often get more prestigious than this one, with Soker and Dibz combining in a green buffed wall. There was a time when Soker was painting all the time and Dibz occasionally, over the last couple of years their roles have reversed slightly. It seems I post a couple of Dibz pieces every month, but Soker rather rarely.
Soker, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2022
To the left is an absolute belter from Soker, spelling out SOKEM, a variant of his name, simply to give him some variation in lettering. Every element of the piece is technically superb, but I am drawn to the rather special fill, and colour selections from bottom to top. Classy stuff from Soker.
Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2022
On the right is a piece from Dibz. Nothing too fussy or big, just some nice black (purple tinged) letters with a cream 3D shadow set on some bursts of orange and red splashes. A nice Example of Dibz’ work and expertise. And great to see these two coupling up.
Anyone who reads these posts regularly will know that I consider Dibz to be one of the best wildstyle writers, in Bristol and indeed in the country. In this outstanding piece in Dean Lane he has combined his talents with the elusive Ulow, who treats us to his talents from time to time.
Ulow and Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2022
The letters, in a dazzling transition from yellow to dark red, spell out DIBZ. The letters are so clean and crisp, and the fades between shades so seamless, there are few words that can describe the expertise on show. Just to cap it all, the pink highlights at the bottom of some of the letters create the most fantastic 3D effect of reflected light. Just brilliant.
Ulow, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2022
The character, I am guessing it is Wolverine, is by Ulow, and demonstrates his fantastic shading skills that give his pieces a soft, rounded appearance, almost organic. Ulow is definitely an artist whose street art work I’d like to see more of.
A recent visit to Bristol by Goldie and Posea was enough to draw some of Bristol’s best artists, 3Dom, Dibz and Shade One, together to create a magnificent collaborative wall in Dean Lane, a couple of weeks ago. The end result is something quite magnificent and a wall that will last long in the memory, and might well remain in situ for quite some time, as there will be lots of respect for it.
Shade One, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2022
The left-hand side of the wall is propped up with this wonderful portrait piece from Shade One. I don’t know if I might be imagining it, but recently Shade One’s style has moved from a cartoony style to a more photorealistic style, and he seems to have raised his level considerably.
Shade One, Goldie and 3Dom, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2022
The left side of the wall features three artists, Shade One, Goldie, with the writing (SAKUKO) and 3Dom with the fantasy and rather fantastical landscape of mushrooms and snail thing. I understand that the two pieces of graffiti writing are names of two of Goldie’s children.
3Dom, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2022
The 3Dom snail with a house for a shell is crazy and imaginative, but I have seen him paint this house a few times before, and I wonder if there is some significance to it. The snail is magnificent, and the eyes are beautifully painted – I’m not too sure what it all means though.
Goldie, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2022
The second piece of Goldie Graffiti writing spells out CHANCE, the name of his daughter, and is in a style more reminiscent of his writing in St Werburghs tunnel a few months ago. There is a flag sticking out of the ‘a’ with the word bleu on it – another mystery of the piece.
Dibz and Posea, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2022
The right-hand side of the wall is rounded off with some superb writing from Dibz and a hand with a lighter by Posea. Both of these elements are superbly painted, as you’d expect, and the flame from the lighter acts as a bridge between the two halves of the collaboration.
Posea, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2022
I don’t know much about Posea at all, other than that he comes from Sheffield and judging from his Instagram feed is a hugely talented and productive street artist. This hand holding a lighter is outstanding, but the flame takes it to another level. Since I photographed this piece, I have seen another of his pieces in Bristol which is equally impressive. I hope he can return soon to share the joy again.
Natural adventures 