I am not sure that I have come across Prefab77 before, but as a massive fan of the North East band Prefab Sprout, I can’t help liking this artist simply because of his name. In addition to this large piece in Elton Street, Prefab77 also left a smaller one in Leonard Lane, perhaps during a single visit to Bristol.
Prefab77, Elton Street, Bristol, October 2023
The black and white piece is really clever, looking like a collage of words and images stuck to the wall. It is actually a composite of stencils to create this ‘scrapbook’ appearance. A busy piece with lots to look at, Prerfab77 has brought us something rather special.
Alex Arnell, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2023
It is a funny thing, but when you have been observing and documenting street art as long as I have, you get to notice things that many others simply wouldn’t, and you can pretty much always spot talent and promise from the vast spectrum of artwork and graffiti appearing on our walls daily.
Alex Arnell, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2023
To Many, this piece by Alex Arnell wouldn’t elicit a second glance, but the child-like scribble is a deliberate style that challenges the status quo. One of the indications that this piece is by a capable artist is the shading on the character’s nose, giving it depth, something a child would not do. The grotesque and alarming face is surrounded with slogans and words, and there is even another head that mimics the central character. I couldn’t end this post without mentioning the butterflies that are associated with some of Alex Arnell’s work, and the little Banksy rat that has been given the Arnell treatment.
This is another piece that was painted during the RBF paint jam to celebrate Bnie’s birthday and Vozie’s new baby with a Rugrats theme. It is of course by Desi, who more often writes Veil these days.
Desi, Frome Side, Bristol, November 2023
This must be one of Desi’s best pieces to date, with every element of the work coming together nicely. I believe that the character was painted by her and if it was, it is the first time I have seen her include a character, and it is brilliant. Her lines are sharp and her fills varied and interesting and one is left with an overall great piece of writing, that sits comfortably with all her RBF friends. Fabulous stuff.
Bnie and Unity, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, November 2023
So far this year I have only found one Christmas piece and this collaboration from Bnie and Unity is it. The fabulous duo were painting alongside several other members of the RBF crew during a paint jam in support of the people of Palestine. This piece is absolutely draped in Christmas good cheer.
Bnie, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, November 2023
To the left, Bnie has painted her letters in a festive silver colour with a string of Christmas lights weaving in and out of them. The Palestinian flag features prominently and Father Christmas does what Father Christmas does to the right. I think that Bnie painted him, but equally it might have been Unity.
Unity, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, November 2023
Unity has been visiting Bristol a little more frequently recently and that can only be a good thing as it means we get to see more of her brilliant work. Unity continues the themes and colours that Bnie has adopted, with the only real difference being a splash of gold in the ‘I’ of Unity. Another Palestinian flag indicates firmly that the public mood in Bristol, which this art reflects, is with the innocent people of Palestine, who played no part in the Hamas attack but are paying an unimaginably high price by the Israeli response to it. Let us hope for and demand peace in the region.
Irony, Unity Street, Bristol, June 2025Irony, Unity Street, Bristol, June 2025Irony, Harmood Street, Camden Town, London, April 2025Irony, Harmood Street, Camden Town, London, April 2025Irony, Harmood Street, Camden Town, London, April 2025Irony, Harmood Street, Camden Town, London, April 2025Irony, North Street, Bristol, June 2022Irony, North Street, Bristol, June 2022Irony, West Street, Bristol, October 2021, Upfest 21Irony, West Street, Bristol, October 2021, Upfest 21Irony, Camden Town, London, November 2017Irony, Camden Town, London, November 2017Irony, Alexandra Parade, Weston-super-Mare, September 2021Irony, Alexandra Parade, Weston-super-Mare, September 2021Irony, Greville Street, Bristol, June 2021, Upfest 21Irony, Greville Street, Bristol, June 2021, Upfest 21Irony, Greville Street, Bristol, June 2021, Upfest 21Irony, Shoreditch, London, November 2018Irony, Nomadic Community Garden, London, November 2018Irony, Nomadic Community Garden, London, November 2018Irony, Paint Festival 2019, Cheltenham, September 2019Irony, Paint Festival 2019, Cheltenham, September 2019Irony, Paint Festival 2019, Cheltenham, September 2019Irony, Paint Festival 2019, Cheltenham, September 2019Irony, Paint Festival 2019, Cheltenham, September 2019Irony, Paint Festival 2019, Cheltenham, September 2019Irony, Greville Road, Bristol, July 2019Irony, Greville Road, Bristol, July 2019Irony, Greville Road, Bristol, July 2019Irony, Greville Road, Bristol, July 2019Irony, Greville Road, Bristol, July 2019Boe and Irony, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017Boe and Irony, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017Boe and Irony, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017Boe and Irony, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017Irony, Camden Town, London, November 2017Irony, Camden Town, London, November 2017Boe and Irony, Upfest, Bristol, January 2017Boe and Irony, Upfest, Bristol, January 2017Boe and Irony, Upfest, Bristol, January 2017Boe and Irony, Upfest, Bristol, January 2017Boe and Irony, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Paul Monsters and Mister Samo, Old Park Road, Exeter, October 2023
One of the last things I would have expected to see in my two-hour wander around Exeter back in October was a collaboration between Mister Samo and Paul Monsters, and yet here it was… a glorious piece of colour, design and creativity.
Paul Monsters and Mister Samo, Old Park Road, Exeter, October 2023
I have a feeling that the piece might be called ‘you are loved’, and there is a great deal of warmth and positivity about the piece, and the styles of the two artists although quite different complement each other perfectly.
Paul Monsters and Mister Samo, Old Park Road, Exeter, October 2023
I suspect that the two artists know each other through the Upfest festival in Bristol, at which both have painted in previous years, and Paul Monsters works in the Upfest shop and is heavily involved in the logistics of the paint festival. As ever, Paul Monsters’ geometric designs create depth and hard edges, against which the character forms by Mister Samo stand out.
Paul Monsters and Mister Samo, Old Park Road, Exeter, October 2023
I love Mister Samo’s work, which is highly designed but at the same time simple and clean. The characters in Mister Samo’s work look like sophisticated doodles, and even though simple, convey a lot of emotion and charm. A real treat and fabulous collaboration from these two excellent artists.
One of the difficulties of posting pieces from towns and cities that aren’t Bristol is that I don’t know where the photographs are taken, and so the titles become rather generic, for example in this one I have simply given it the label Exeter. I have done a little detective work, and the pub sign just behind the bush says ‘The Nest’ so, using Google maps, I know that this piece is on New N Road.
None Here, Exeter, October 2023
The rather endearing collection of birds is by resident artist None Here, whose work can be found all over the city. Although the artwork is a little naive, it is most captivating, and great to know that somebody is out there decorating spots that would otherwise be dull and lifeless. Although the birds are generally non-descript, I think I can see a gull and a heron. More to come from my trip to Exeter back in October.
Dibz and Fade have been a tour de force this year and I have featured a lot of their work on Natural Adventures along the way. I think that this collaborative piece might be the last this side of Christmas, and it is yet another cracker from the duo, a Christmas cracker if you like.
Fade, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2023
Adopting their usual format for long walls of a piece of graffiti writing from each artist, positioned either side of a central feature piece by either of them or a ‘guest’ artist like Jody or Sikoh. To the left, Fade has written a lovely sharp FADER FUA in pink and green letters, either side of which are cartoon characters, although I have utterly failed to identify what film/series they come from.
Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2023
On the right, Dibz has written his name in glorious gold with a sumptuous purple drop shadow and pink border, all as crisp as you’d expect from him. The character in this piece is, I think, Count Duckula, and some green gloop oozes from the piece in an evil way on the sides.
Fade and Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2023
The feature in the middle portrays a full moon with the letters FUA KREW, which is their From Up Above crew name. I don’t know which artist painted the letters, but they are 100 percent on point, in quite a challenging arrangement. Some great work from two of the tidiest artists around.
Sait Bare, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, September 2023
My train journey to London continues and the service is heaving. Christmas shopping and football matches have swelled the normal Sunday passenger numbers, but somehow I have managed to keep my unreserved seat beyond Chippenham, so I think I am safe. The above might not make much sense if it is not read in sequence from the previous two posts (5703 and 5704).
Sait Bare, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, September 2023
This is the second piece by Sait Bare that I have posted on Natural Adventures, although I think it was painted before the first. I am still acquainting myself with his work, and as he doesn’t appear to paint very regularly, I am still forming my thoughts about his style and execution. This is a fine piece of writing/character combination work, and the border lines and details are very nice and sharp. The letter fills too are really nicely done with some great fades and ‘gaseous’ patterning. The character is quite straightforward with a quirky appearance. All good, and I look forward to seeing more from Sait Bare in the New Year.
I am currently on my way to London to watch Arsenal play Brighton in the Premier League, my first match of the season. The train is expected to be very full, and I don’t have a reserved seat (even though I ordered on when I bought the tickets). I expect to be evicted at any moment, so will keep this short.
Mr Crawls, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2023
Mr Crawls seems to be having the time of his life, whether it is on his own or painting with Mote. This is a fine variation on his bird theme on the farm end of the tunnel, and shows off the inner workings of one of his birds. More of these to come.
Natural adventures 