5617. The Paintworks (6)

RichT, The Paintworks, Bristol, October 2023
RichT, The Paintworks, Bristol, October 2023

This piece by RichT completely passed me by. I have no idea whether is is old or new. It is a lesson in looking backwards because I walk past this wall from time to time, but cannot see the face of it when walking from the direction I come from. I think it was the dog that stopped after I had gone past and I caught the piece in my peripheral vision, and of course made a bee line over to it.

RichT, The Paintworks, Bristol, October 2023
RichT, The Paintworks, Bristol, October 2023

The piece is typically busy and interesting and beautifully presented. The piece is also brilliantly on-topic, with a can of paint character (not a spray can on this occasion) painting a floral design with a paintbrush. The colours are incredibly subtle and the piece has a black and white tinted effect. Some clever work picking out the mortar lines in the brickwork emphasises the sense of place. A great piece, a commission I imagine, and a nice tribute to Elliot.

5573. Sidwell Street Exeter

Sophie Mess, Sidwell Street, Exeter, October 2023
Sophie Mess, Sidwell Street, Exeter, October 2023

One of my most popular street art posts on Natural Adventures was a piece by Vhils on Exeter High Street (which I would link to if links were working on WordPress this morning), a very short distance away from this stunner by Sophie Mess. I love it when ugly corporate or retail buildings commission artwork to brighten things up, and what an impact this floral treat has had on an otherwise dull facade and home for pigeons.

Sophie Mess, Sidwell Street, Exeter, October 2023
Sophie Mess, Sidwell Street, Exeter, October 2023

Sophie Mess is an artist based in Devon, who tends to go big with her incredible floral creations, and indeed painted a vast iris piece on the Tobacco Factory wall for Upfest 2022 (yet to be posted here). This piece is simply amazing, so full of rich colours and textures and so utterly uplifting. Every shopping centre in the UK should have one of these. Exeter is blessed to have a piece like this in the heart of their shopping area, and yet the only people looking at it were people wondering what it was that I was photographing. You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink. LOOK UP!

5533. Dean Lane skate park (642)

Peggy, Dean Lane Bristol, September 2023
Peggy, Dean Lane Bristol, September 2023

I think I first became aware of Peggy’s beautiful floral pieces in Dean Lane, a few yards from this one, so it is great to see how much she has come on and how much bolder and confident her work has become. This outstanding piece was painted alongside friends in a recent paint jam that covered as much wall space as possible in this corner of Dean Lane skate park.

Peggy, Dean Lane Bristol, September 2023
Peggy, Dean Lane Bristol, September 2023

The colour selection for the piece is perhaps the first thing that draws the eye, but a closer look at the floral patterns and motifs adds to the overall enjoyment. The middle of the flowers contain little smiley or not smiley faces and Ying Yang motifs. And the trademark eyes at the centre of the larger flowers. A fine piece from Peggy, perfectly fitting the awkward spot.

5447. Greenbank (91)

Peggy, Greenbank, Bristol, August 2023
Peggy, Greenbank, Bristol, August 2023

Peggy is a tattoo artist and street artist who paints wonderful floral murals about the place. She is an active crew member of RBF (Resting Bitch Face crew), and joined in with their recent Barbie paint jam up at Greenbank. What I particularly like about this piece is that Peggy, who I imagine is fairly principled, has not created a piece that is overtly ‘Barbieised’.

Peggy, Greenbank, Bristol, August 2023
Peggy, Greenbank, Bristol, August 2023

This floral design might have conceded a little bit more pink than Peggy might ordinarily use, but she has kept to her overall style, which I admire. This is one of her larger pieces and is a great example of her beautiful flower designs. Fabulously presented, the piece also has some little feature stars that create focal points that draw the eye, but also provide a bit of sparkle. A wonderful non-Barbie, Barbie piece.

5339. Dean Lane skate park (615)

Peggy, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2023
Peggy, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2023

One of the things that I really like about Peggy’s floral works is that she likes to occupy little niches or modest walls, rather than commanding a large ‘in your face’ space. I think that these smaller spots lend themselves really well to her finely crafted designs, which she can adapt to the selected space, which is more difficult to do with writing or character pieces.

Peggy, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2023
Peggy, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2023

I am not a big fan of brown and dark colours in street art, don’t ask me why, it is a personal taste thing, but in this case, Peggy has worked her magic on me and I like what she has done. Her floral pattern, naturally, has an eye at the centre, keeping watch over the skate park. Lovely work from Peggy, who perhaps ought to have a gallery on Natural Adventures – watch this space.

5320. Upfest 2022 (78)

Rob Wheeler, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022
Rob Wheeler, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022

I have only once before seen the work of Rob Wheeler, I think, and that is on one of the commissioned columns under the railway on Stapleton Road, and his style is so distinctive, drawing on the William Morris style of large floral decorations, almost looking like a sumptuous 1970s wallpaper design.

Rob Wheeler, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022
Rob Wheeler, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022

The design is tight, the lines sharp and fills solid, and from a technical point of view this piece is near perfect. This floral treat was a highlight of the festival, although to be fair, there were so many highlights.

5222. Cumberland Basin

Peggy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2023
Peggy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2023

Coincidentally, this stunning floral piece by Peggy is a birthday tribute, and although it was not planned this way, I happen to be posting it on my Wife’s birthday, and that feels good.

Peggy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2023
Peggy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2023

The piece has all the wonderful attributes you would expect from Peggy. Beautiful leaves and petals with some concealed eyes. When I next see Peggy I’ll need to ask her if there is any symbolism involved. I love Peggy’s work, and it brings a different a different element to the Bristol scene.

5108. Cumberland Basin

Peggy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2023
Peggy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2023

For a little while now, Peggy has been brightening up dark corners of our streets with her beautiful floral designs.  This small piece is on the warehouse on the opposite bank of the river facing the Riverside Garden Centre. I don’t wander alongside the warehouse, so am not too sure how long the piece has been there. It is still looking pretty fresh though, however old.

Peggy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2023
Peggy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2023

Peggy’s style is instantly recognisable with its flowing shapes and beautiful tones, more often than not, an eye makes its way into the composition. It is easy to see the crossover between Tattoo art and street art in her pieces. This is a little beauty.

4989. St Werburghs tunnel (346)

Mr Klue and Hana, St Werburghs, Bristol, January 2022
Mr Klue and Hana, St Werburghs, Bristol, January 2022

It looks like Mr Klue has a new painting partner, which is great to see. This small collaboration appeared in the tunnel a couple of weeks ago and has colour coordinated pieces by Mr Klue and Hana (an artist I have not encountered before).

Mr Klue and Hana, St Werburghs, Bristol, January 2022
Mr Klue and Hana, St Werburghs, Bristol, January 2022

To the left is a characteristic wispy KLUE (I think), ephemeral as ever and looking like it might evaporate at any moment, and to the right, pulling the colours across, is a beautiful floral design piece by Hana. It would seem that ‘Floral’ is ‘in’ at the moment, and I am fully in favour of it. I know that these two have paired up again since this piece was painted, but I can’t recall where – I’ll need to investigate.

4986. St Werburghs tunnel (344)

Peggy, St Werburghs, Bristol, January 2023
Peggy, St Werburghs, Bristol, January 2023

I met Peggy for the first time yesterday in Dean Lane, but it was the most fleeting of meetings. Peggy was finishing off a piece on a sloping wall and wasn’t really in a position to stop and chat, so I left her to it, and will I’m sure, have another opportunity to say hello.

Peggy, St Werburghs, Bristol, January 2023
Peggy, St Werburghs, Bristol, January 2023

This is a gorgeous piece at the farm end of the tunnel, which I don’t think lasted very long, which is a great pity. Clearly Peggy has a great eye for design and proportion, and manages to create a piece that fits a space very well. I expect she gets lots of practice from the henna work she does. As with other pieces she has created, there is an eye in the floral design. Quite what the eye signifies, I don’t know, but I will ask, if I ever get the chance. A fine piece from Peggy.