4941. Sparke Evans Park (51)

Rozalita, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, March 2022
Rozalita, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, March 2022

I think I know why pieces from Sparke Evans Park sometimes get left behind in my archives. As mentioned on these pages numerous times, there is a row of mature trees that run parallel with the long wall, roughly 5 meters away from it. If there is even a hint of sun, then it is impossible to photograph anything on the wall due to dappled shading – summer or winter.

Often I will photograph the wall and be dissatisfied with the pictures, and then return some time later on a dull day to take more pictures. Because of the volume of new street/graffiti being painted each week, these second sets of pictures can get a little lost in the competition for space on Natural Adventures. By looking back through my archives I can pull out a few pieces that I feel should be posted. This beauty by Rozalita is one such piece.

Rozalita, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, March 2022
Rozalita, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, March 2022

Although last year was a relatively quiet year for Rozalita, compared to 2021, the quality of her work was outstanding, and this gorgeous piece combines her skills at painting portraits with her detailed flowers and butterfly. I am looking forward to another great year from Rozalita.

4897. Cumberland Basin

Mudra and Peggy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2022
Mudra and Peggy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2022

This wonderful collaboration reminds me of an early moving picture of an early Disney Mickey Mouse cartoon – some of you may know what I am imagining, some of you might think I have lost the plot. No matter. The colourful collaboration is by Mudra and Peggy and an absolute joy.

Mudra and Peggy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2022
Mudra and Peggy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2022

The character is by Mudra and looks like it is a letter (B?) walking and whistling and so gull of animation, it looks like it could walk right off the wall. The character is holding a beautiful flower stem and flower, painted by the up-and-coming Peggy. The whole thing is set on a black background which helps with giving the character definition and purpose. This is a very welcome and joyous pairing; long may they continue to collaborate.

4415. Greenbank (42)

This piece is not bad for a tattoo artist, not bad at all, in fact it is blooming marvellous, and Etza has absolutely smashed it with this enormous floral piece, painted alongside his collaboration pal Chill. The piece is something really quite different and most arresting.

Etza, Greenbank, Bristol, April 2022
Etza, Greenbank, Bristol, April 2022

Etza has created a clean and sharp flower in rich red, yellow and black colours that has all the hallmarks of a sumptuous wallpaper design. There is a strong field of floral artist in the UK, including our own Alex Lucas, and Philth, who I think works out of London. This piece would sit proudly alongside those others, and proudly so. Finding this was a surprise and a pleasure.

4081. Cumbrland Basin

Ooh! Creative, imaginative and lots of fun, this wonderful piece from Slakarts down in Cumberland Basin is an elaborate expansion on his regular face template. In this piece, Slakarts is telling much more of a story than simply painting up his mega-tag that we see quite a lot of in the city.

Slakarts, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, September 2021
Slakarts, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, September 2021

A man, a flower and a dog are the subjects of this lovely piece, and the confidence and boldness ooze out of the wall. Slakarts’ work is typified by the thick outlines and solid fills that present as clean and tidy work. There are some similarities in this work and that of Roo, which is a compliment indeed. More sophisticated stuff from Slakarts to come.

3841. Greenbank (13)

Although it isn’t something that should be too much remarked upon or even overthought, there is a really large contingent of female street artists in Bristol, which probably goes against the stereotype of being the province of young male delinquents (a stereotype that is so misinformed I might add). One of the regular ladies wot paint is Billy, whose colourful murals never disappoint.

Billy, Greenbank, Bristol, July 2021
Billy, Greenbank, Bristol, July 2021

This one on the long wall at Greenbank is particularly beautiful and calming. The message is simple and positive, ‘a nice flower in the park’ and the bold shapes and design a pleasant antidote to wildstyle writing or photorealism. This naive style of street art is equally valid and often very powerful in its simplicity and voice. Lovely work from Billy, once again.

Old faithful

.

Rhododendron bush

although leggy and ancient

puts on a great show

.

by Scooj

I inherited this rhododendron from the previous owner some 28 years ago and it looked tired and leggy even then. It is in the wrong soil and really shouldn’t even be alive, but every year the flowers just seem to get better. This year is the best show ever.