6746. L Dub (65)

Stivs, Fade and Dibz, L Dub, Bristol, February 2025
Stivs, Fade and Dibz, L Dub, Bristol, February 2025

A common collaborative presentation, which so many of my posts feature, is a three-way triptych between two writers and a character artist. Dibz and Fade have played out this structure with numerous fellow collaborators, often Jody. In this piece, however, it is Stivs who performs the honours with consummate skill.

Stivs and Fade, L Dub, Bristol, February 2025
Stivs and Fade, L Dub, Bristol, February 2025

The three artists have taken over the entire corner wall of the pumping station with a bright scene incorporating the film/TV/merchandise franchise ‘Transformers’. On the left Stivs and Fade share the space, with a large robot character on the left by Stivs, and some beautiful ‘flat’ lettering from Fade (with the ‘A’ upside down?), all set on an urban silhouette scene.

Stivs and Dibz, L Dub, Bristol, February 2025
Stivs and Dibz, L Dub, Bristol, February 2025

On the right-hand elevation, Stivs and Dibz have combined with the ‘Bumblebee’ character to the left and some classy bright writing from Dibs in the middle. To the right of the writing is a ‘metallic’ emblem, so beautifully crafted, with the letters THK fashioned into a robot mask. A very impressive piece by these three artists in a place that receives very little foot-fall, so seen by relatively few people.

6739. Dean Lane skate park (807)

Fade and Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2025
Fade and Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2025

I caught up with Fade a couple of days ago, and he observed that I hadn’t posted much of his and Dibz’ work lately, He was right, but fortunately this collaboration was already in my pipeline, and is a timely reminder of their fantastic work. I would add that they have had a generally quiet start to the year, but are picking up the pace a bit now.

Fade, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2025
Fade, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2025

Unlike most of their collaborations, the three elements are a little bit fragmented. The writing from Dibz and Fade is distinct and there is no general colour theme, and the tank is a little bit out of context. Fade has gone for some beautifully finished letters, in the corners of which are a bunch of explosions. The writing is set on a nighttime cloudy sky.

Fade and Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2025
Fade and Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2025

That brings me on to the tank, which I assume is a joint effort. I don’t quite know what the tank represents, but I guess you could take your pick – Gaza, Ukraine or even a metaphor for Trump’s wreckless and aggressive international policies. Maybe it is just a nice picture of a tank.

Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2025
Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2025

Dibz’ outstanding writing has a camouflage thing going on, but it is subtlely applied, and contrasts beautifully with the orange (but it looks like copper) 3D drop shadow. This wall has been a great place for Dibz and Fade to showcase their work, and recently, they have painted it again (keeping the tank intact) – to come soon.

6673. Brunel Way (308)

Fade, Stivs and Dibz, Brunel Way, Bristol, January 2025
Fade, Stivs and Dibz, Brunel Way, Bristol, January 2025

Towards the end of the year, the collaborations from Dibz and Fade plus guests, dropped off significantly, and I have a feeling that Fade told me he was making a trip to America in the winter, and perhaps that was the reason. I am sure that this is only a temporary blip and that this collaboration marks the first of many in 2025

Fade, Brunel Way, Bristol, January 2025
Fade, Brunel Way, Bristol, January 2025

This time, Dibz and Fade have teamed up with Stivs, who has provided the centrepiece for this collaboration. In this piece, there is a clear themed palette giving off a rusty red vibe, combined with a deep white drop shadow. Fade has written his FADER letters with accuracy, and the shadow fill is either thin or patterned, and I can’t quite decide which.

Stivs, Brunel Way, Bristol, January 2025
Stivs, Brunel Way, Bristol, January 2025

Stivs has provided the character interest in the centre with a magnificent Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle portrait (he is going through a bit of a TMNT phase at the moment). The writing at the top says ‘Have a turtlee good 25’ giving away that this is a New Year collaboration piece.

Dibz, Brunel Way, Bristol, January 2025
Dibz, Brunel Way, Bristol, January 2025

Dibz rounds off the triptych with a reflection (in terms of colour and style) of Fade’s writing, and also has the same effect on the white drop shadow, which leads me to conclude that it is a deliberate, mottled pattern rather than thin paint, which makes sense really, because these masters of their craft would never be happy with substandard fills. A great way to begin the year.

6534. Ikea Wall of Fame (1)

Zaki Dee, Nicer, Fade and BG183, Ikea wall of fame, Bristol, October 2024
Zaki Dee, Nicer, Fade and BG183, Ikea wall of fame, Bristol, October 2024

Something big happened in Bristol over 17-20 October in the Ikea car park, just off junction 2 of the M32. Goldie, a British music producer and DJ who is also an accomplished graffiti writer and whose work has appeared in Natural Adventures several times, organised an international paint jam to celebrate the 30th anniversary of his record label Metalheadz. In doing so, he invited artists from the New York-based Tats Cru to join a selection of Bristol artists, and some others from the UK and beyond.

The challenge was to paint a themed collaboration – the yellow brick road from The Wizard of Oz (more on this another time) on this enormous wall. In doing so a new wall of fame was created, and one which I hope will host further such productions. This is the first in a series of photographs from the wall, starting at the left-hand end.

Zaki Dee, Nicer, Fade and BG183, Ikea wall of fame, Bristol, October 2024
Zaki Dee, Nicer, Fade and BG183, Ikea wall of fame, Bristol, October 2024

In this first section, The writing is from Fade, who is no stranger to Natural Adventures, and he is accompanied by the rather gory witch character by Nicer, some floral decoration, running through the entire production, by Zaki Dee and a section of New York skyline by BG183.

I will be posting more from this incredible paint jam in due course, and hope to provide some sense of scale of the production.

6524. Brunel Way (301)

Fade (Jody and Acer One)) and Dibz, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2024
Fade (Jody and Acer One)) and Dibz, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2024

This is a wonderful production wrap-around Halloween piece from Dibz and Fade. In fact this is the second time that the pair have bookended their former tribute collaboration with Jody and Acer One, to musician and DJ Randall. The central portrait by Jody and letters from Acer One have remained intact each time.

Fade, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2024
Fade and Jody, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2024

To the left Fade has painted a wonderful combination piece, along with Jody, with the letters FDE either side of a creepy pumpkin character. The purple, black and green colours together with the pumpkin orange are commonly used in Halloween pieces.

Fade, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2024
Jody, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2024

The pumpkin is super-fierce and beautifully painted by Jody (thank you Paul H for your unflinching reminders that I completely missed this) with the light overflowing from the lantern and spilling onto the floor and spelling out the crew letters THK. Clever stuff.

Dibz, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2024
Dibz, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2024

To the right, Dibz has similarly created a combination piece, but his character is a cartoon-style Grim Reaper, altogether less threatening than his pumpkin partner. The letters offer up wildstyle writing at its best, and contrasts somewhat with the comic character, but as ever, Dibz gets the two to work well together.

Dibz, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2024
Dibz, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2024

Overall a superb seasonal augmentation of an existing collaboration.

6492. L Dub (61)

Fade, L Dub, Bristol, October 2024
Fade, L Dub, Bristol, October 2024

Hot on the heals (pun intended) of yesterday’s post featuring a flame piece by Dibz is this outstanding burner from Fade which was painted adjacent to Dibz’. I wasn’t able to get both pieces in one shot so have presented them separately.

Fade, L Dub, Bristol, October 2024
Fade, L Dub, Bristol, October 2024

I think that both artists were on absolute top form on the day they painted these pieces, because they are pretty much flawless, and they may have taken their work to another level, if that is even a thing. Fade’s pieces tend to be slightly less busy than his friend’s and sometimes a little easier on the eye. This piece is tight as tight can be and the transitions of fill are to die for. The dog (who Fade is particularly fond of) says hello.

6445. Dean Lane skate park (769)

Dibz and Fade, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2024
Dibz and Fade, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2024

Keeping up with Dibz and Fade can be a difficult thing to do… they are a combined force of nature with an energy and enthusiasm for graffiti writing that is unsurpassed in Bristol. This piece, entitled ‘Explosive material’ kind of does what it says on the tin, and contains writing from both artists amidst an explosion.

Dibz and Fade, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2024
Dibz and Fade, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2024

Dibz on top in blue and Fade below in red complement one another perfectly with their styles, and the fills are nothing short of miraculous, incorporating the clouds of the explosion behind. This is a well-worked graffiti writing piece from two artists who keep raising their level notch by notch.

For good measure, they both left behind quick throw ups painted at the same time as this piece:

Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2024
Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2024

Fade, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2024
Fade, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2024

6432. Dean Lane skate park (765)

Fade, Pekoe and Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2024
Fade, Pekoe and Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2024

Every once in a while I go back a month or two into my archives looking for pieces that get missed or overlooked but that deserve to be published on Natural Adventures. How I let this one pass me by I’ll never know, but it is a wonderful collaboration between Fade, Pekoe and Dibz.

Fade and Pekoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2024
Fade and Pekoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2024

Fade and Dibz paint this wall a lot, and I mean a lot, so it is really nice to see them hook up with Pekoe to collaborate with them. There is a strong spider theme coming across in the collaboration, and Fade’s letters have webs suspended from them and forming part of the fill. The dark letters are topped with a nice red colour for variation, and he has painted a tidy 3D drop shadow. Nice stuff from Fade.

Pekoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2024
Pekoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2024

Pekoe has painted a small portrait centrepiece between the two writers, of a woman with a red face and spider hair theme going on. I don’t know if this is a fictional Pekoe character or whether is is meant to be some kind of spider woman character, but it is nice and tight and beautifully presented (a rose between two thorns?)

Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2024
Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2024

The Tryptich is completed with a fine example of wildstyle writing from Dibz, whose letter fills, decorations and colours reflect Fade’s on the other side. I would have liked to have known more about the spider theme, but my curiosity will have to remain unresolved until I next meet one of the artists. A nicely finished themed collaboration.

6389. Brunel Way (290)

Dibz, Jody, Urge, The Art of Sok and Fade, Brunel Way, Bristol, July 2024
Dibz, Jody, Urge, The Art of Sok and Fade, Brunel Way, Bristol, July 2024

This is another stunning production piece, led and bookended by Dibz and Fade, incorporating work from Jody, Urge and The Art of Sok.  The themed colours of orange and light blues works exceptionally well in this spot that can have a tendency to be a bit gloomy.

Dibz, Brunel Way, Bristol, July 2024
Dibz, Brunel Way, Bristol, July 2024

Starting with Dibz on the left (and rather annoyingly, capturing that shaft of light which makes an appearance in the afternoons), the collaboration gets off to a great start, with as sharp and tidy wildstyle graffiti writing as you would expect from Dibz.

Jody, Brunel Way, Bristol, July 2024
Jody, Brunel Way, Bristol, July 2024

With five artists in the line-up, and three of them writers, the character pieces appear in the second and fourth slots. This astonishing Godzilla piece is by Jody, who has been on fire since joining up with Dibz and Fade over the last year or so (although, to be fair, he is always on fire, but perhaps more so recently).

Urge, Brunel Way, Bristol, July 2024
Urge, Brunel Way, Bristol, July 2024

Next up is a piece by Urge, who I know nothing about, but whose writing looks completely at home with the Bristol artists. I guess that Urge was visiting, or passing by, and got invited to join in. I love it that Bristol artists are so welcoming of others from around the country.

The Art of Sok, Brunel Way, Bristol, July 2024
The Art of Sok, Brunel Way, Bristol, July 2024

The fourth slot is taken up by the Art of Sok, whose distinctive style of cartoon characters, while so utterly different from the other four pieces, somehow manages to complement them very well. His characters are always beautifully presented in as close to a perfect state as they could be.

Fade, Brunel Way, Bristol, July 2024
Fade, Brunel Way, Bristol, July 2024

Things are rounded off by Fade, who along with Dibz ‘owns’ this manor. His beautiful letters, immaculately filled with two shades of blue and bordered with an orange 3D drop shadow, reflect the writing that comes before it. This is a very classy production piece from these five artists. Bravo!

6379. Brunel Way (289)

Goldie, Fade, Acer One, Jody and Dibz, Brunel Way, Bristol, August 2024
Goldie, Fade, Acer One, Jody and Dibz, Brunel Way, Bristol, August 2024

All year long, Dibz and Fade have been decorating this wall with alarming regularity, and they have been joined along the way in their endeavours by Andy Council, Jody and Acer One (amongst others) and this time are joined by Goldie, Acer One and Jody. A production tribute wall to honour the musician and DJ, Randall.

Goldie, Brunel Way, Bristol, August 2024
Goldie, Brunel Way, Bristol, August 2024

The whole production is very nicely balanced which given the configuration, which starts with a Goldie piece that embroiders the words ‘The R’. This is a really nice dedication and beautifully painted. The colour selection is reflected in the rest of the collaboration. It is always great to see Goldie visiting Bristol for a bit of a paint.

Fade, Brunel Way, Bristol, August 2024
Fade, Brunel Way, Bristol, August 2024

Fade is next up and he has compressed his piece to accommodate Goldie next to him and support the balance I was talking about earlier. With the orange and turquoise letters, Fade has written the letters ‘DJ’ which are as immaculate as you might expect. Both sets of writing are adorned with flames, which extend for the entire collaboration.

Acer One and Jody, Brunel Way, Bristol, August 2024
Acer One and Jody, Brunel Way, Bristol, August 2024

The centrepiece is  a shared space with Acer One lettering across the top of an outstanding Jody portrait of DJ Randall. Acer One has written ‘Too hot to handle’ which I am guessing is part of a slogan rhyming with DJ Randall. Not being a music specialist myself, I am unable to shed too much light on the artist or his work.

Jody, Brunel Way, Bristol, August 2024
Jody, Brunel Way, Bristol, August 2024

The Portrait is a faithful and beautifully painted, and certainly a fitting tribute.

Dibz, Brunel Way, Bristol, August 2024
Dibz, Brunel Way, Bristol, August 2024

The production rounds-off on the right with a wide piece of wildstyle graffiti writing from Dibz. The Turquoise and orange letters spell Randall, so the whole production spells out:

“The R, Too hot to handle, DJ Randall”.

Wonderful stuff from this quintet of talented artists.