Thursday doors – 20 June 2019

Doors 75 – A walk along the River Avon cycle path.

Last Sunday was Father’s Day, and I took the opportunity to be a little self-indulgent and go off on a street art hunt to parts of Bristol city I haven’t been to before. I think that wandering around aimlessly, whether in an urban or rural setting is one of my favourite things. No plan, no map, no directions, just looking around and exploring keeping my eyes open and spotting things that might interest me.

This type of exploring is best done alone, because it involves a lot of side tracks and doubling back which could prove tiresome for any companions.

I decided to drop down onto a cycle path which runs alongside the River Avon (literally river river… Avon is derived from a word abon which means river or Afon in Welsh). The cycle path is sandwiched between the river and the backs of buildings on an industrial estate. On the opposite bank is the Paintworks, which is a reconstructed industrial estate full of rather fancy industrial/business units. The cycle path side is definitely the less salubrious of the banks.

I found a fair amount of graffiti, most of it just tagging, and an awful lot of industrial unit fire escape doors, none of which looked like they had been used in years. I share those doors with you now. I don’t expect a lot of love for these doors, but they are doors, I saw them and feel it is only fair to post them.

Rather bright yellow door, River Avon cycle path, Bristol, June 2019
Rather bright yellow door, River Avon cycle path, Bristol, June 2019
Warehouse rear door, River Avon cycle path, Bristol, June 2019
Warehouse rear door, River Avon cycle path, Bristol, June 2019
Charmingly decorated fire exit door to a warehouse, River Avon cycle path, Bristol, June 2019
Charmingly decorated fire exit door to a warehouse, River Avon cycle path, Bristol, June 2019
Door painted by Sirens, River Avon cycle path, Bristol, June 2019
Door painted by Sirens, River Avon cycle path, Bristol, June 2019
Overgrown fire exit door, River Avon cycle path, Bristol, June 2019
Overgrown fire exit door, River Avon cycle path, Bristol, June 2019

there was a bit of a contrast with the opposite bank, which had rather a wide margin of brackish plants spreading down onto the mud (the tide was out), and hosted a fair amount of wildlife including these Canada geese.

On the other side of the River Canada Geese graze in the thick estuarine mud,, River Avon cycle path, Bristol, June 2019
On the other side of the River Canada Geese graze in the thick estuarine mud, River Avon cycle path, Bristol, June 2019

 

So that is another week of doors gone by, maybe soon I’ll find some rather more attractive doors to post, but don’t bank on it.

If you’d like to see more doors take a good look at the Norm 2.0 blog – the originator  of Thursday Doors where there are links to yet more doors in the comments section at the end.

 

by Scooj

 

2272. St Werburghs tunnel (85)

A view of St Werburghs tunnel that I haven’t shared before, seen from the city farm end. The entrance to the tunnel is guarded by a pair of ‘monolithic’ gurning faces by Atchue, one on either side.

Atchue, St Werburghs, Bristol, June 2019
Atchue, St Werburghs, Bristol, June 2019

I haven’t seen much from Atchue lately, so to be presented with these two-for-the-price-of-one faces is definitely a bit of a bonus. On the left is one of his more familiar pink pieces, but the one on the right is in magnificent chrome.

Atchue, St Werburghs, Bristol, June 2019
Atchue, St Werburghs, Bristol, June 2019

The chrome face appears to be in mid gurn and you can almost hear him making a groaning noise. A lovely idea executed brilliantly by Atchue.

2271. M32 roundabout J3 (148)

It would seem that artists from Cardiff like to swing by Bristol every now and again, and when they do come they tend to paint together, I suppose a bit of a paint jam on tour really. This is a really lovely piece by Unity, a graffiti writer I met at Upfest last year whose work I don’t get to see too often so it was nice to find this one down at the M32 roundabout.

Unity, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2019
Unity, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2019

Her work is quite organic in appearance, and this piece looks almost edible, like icing on a cake or something. Unity blends her colours very nicely and this piece drops from yellow to brown to pink without any harsh lines. Great work. It is a pity we have to wait so long between visits.

Unity, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2018
Unity, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2018

2270. North Street

This piece has been lurking in my archives for quite a long time now, but what better time to dig it out than right now? It is of course by the brilliant political commentator John D’oh and was created back in July 2016, and who’d have thought after all this time we’d still be caught up in a Boris Johnson circus?

John D'oh, North Street, Bristol, July 2016
John D’oh, North Street, Bristol, July 2016

The Michael referred to in this witty Forrest Gump pastiche would of course be Gove, and surprise, surprise here they both are making headlines in the contest for leadership of the Conservative Party. What a dismal mess this country is in, and what a sad indictment that the leader of our country will be chosen not by the electorate, but by a small number of fee-paying conservatives. There is no hope other than that the appointment of a clown for PM might just bury the Tories for the next 15 years.

It is galling that the mess we are in was not created in the aspiration to make life in the UK better for all, but simply to shore up the division in the Conservative party, and guess what, they F*cked that up good and proper as well.

2269. M32 roundabout J3 (147)

Back to one of my trusty favourites with this beautiful piece at the M32 roundabout by Face 1st. Here he returns to his winning format of a sweet face covered with sumptuously decorated hair which spells out FACE if you look carefully.

Face 1st, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2019
Face 1st, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2019

I like the way that Face 1st has diversified over the last few months, but kept these great face pieces in his locker. I hope to come across Face 1st again this summer and tell him that he has inspired me to give it a go myself. I tried copying one of his simple faces, but it didn’t work out too well. More to come from this Bristol stalwart.

2268. M32 Cycle path (28)

Ok, so another debut on Natural Adventures, this time a piece by Bnie. I have been aware of her work for quite a while and have several of her pieces in my archive (I’ll have to dig them out now, having broken the ice), but have just never posted any of them until now.

Bnie, M32 cycle path, Bristol, June 2019
Bnie, M32 cycle path, Bristol, June 2019

I believe she might have a Welsh connection, as I have seen her work alongside Smak before and also when Welsh crews come over to paint in Bristol her work is sometimes among them. She has a lovely touch and style to her work and this piece is beautifully filled. I wish I could do what these guys do, it just looks so good. I look forward to sharing more of her pieces and trying to find out a little bit more about her.

2267. Dean Lane skate park (221)

I think that the first piece of street art by Copyright that I became conscious of was a wheatpaste somewhere in the Stokes Croft area a few years ago, I have since seen so much more of his work, and like it very much. It was nice to find this paste up, in Dean Lane skatepark recently, still pretty much in mint condition.

Copyright, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2019
Copyright, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2019

Things have slowed a little on the street art scene in Bristol over the past ten days or so because of the dismal weather we have been having, but it has allowed me to catch up (the tiniest amount) on my posts.

There is something a little sinister in this piece, and I think it might be the lack of pupils in the eyes, and this edgy nature cuts slightly across the grain with the title ‘Love’. The spots read-across really well from the dress and onto the background providing a continuity to the whole. Fabulous to see another Copyright wheatpaste (or anything for that matter… it has been a while).

2266. Stokes Croft

A few more striking wheatpastes from Frenchman Tian on the streets of Stokes Croft. Unfortunately with all the rain we’ve been having, several of these have started to peel off and disapppear, but I guess that is the ephemeral nature of street art.

Tian, Stokes Croft, Bristol, May 2019
Tian, Stokes Croft, Bristol, May 2019

There appear to be two colour variants of this stencil piece of an oriental woman looking so beautiful with flowers in her hair, this blue one, and a slightly less colourful sepia one.

Tian, Stokes Croft, Bristol, May 2019
Tian, Stokes Croft, Bristol, May 2019

I am so full of admiration for the way Tian works his art – first sourcing a great photograph, then creating a stencil from it, then printing off and cutting out paste ups and finally finding the precise and thought-out locations for each of them. He is a true master of his craft and I am an enormous fan.

 

2265. Dean Lane skate park (220)

This lovely collaboration by paint amigos Laic217 and Cort is one of those ones that kind of passed the world by. I haven’t seen it at all on social media, and it might be that it was painted over shortly after completion and maybe I just got lucky.

Laic217, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2019
Laic217, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2019

On the left of the collaboration is a caracter piece by Laic complete with bucket hat and gold chain, and then to the right a rather tidy piece by Cort in his characteristic letter shapes with some decent fills and decorations. All in all a nice collaboration. Not sure the dog was all that impressed though.

Smak

A gallery of top drawer graffiti writing by Bristol’s artist Smak.

Instagram: @smaktown

All photographs taken by Scooj.

Smak, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2022
Smak, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2022
Smak, Brunel Way, Bristol, July 2022
Smak, Brunel Way, Bristol, July 2022
Smak, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2022
Smak, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2022
Smak, Greenbank, Bristol, March 2022
Smak, Greenbank, Bristol, March 2022
Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2022
Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2022
Smak, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, January 2022
Smak, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, January 2022
Smak, Peel Street Green, Bristol, January 2022
Smak, Peel Street Green, Bristol, January 2022
Smak, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2021
Smak, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2021
Smak, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2021
Smak, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2021
Smak, Picton Lane, Bristol, January 2021
Smak, Picton Lane, Bristol, January 2021
Kosc, Smak and Sled One, Picton Lane, Bristol, January 2021
Kosc, Smak and Sled One, Picton Lane, Bristol, January 2021
Smak, Upper York Street, Bristol, January 2021
Smak, Upper York Street, Bristol, January 2021
Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2020
Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2020
Smak, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2020
Smak, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2020
Smak, M32 cycle path, Bristol, November 2020
Smak, M32 cycle path, Bristol, November 2020
Smak, M32 Spot, Bristol, October 2020
Smak, M32 Spot, Bristol, October 2020
Smak and Mena, M32 Spot, Bristol, October 2020
Smak and Mena, M32 Spot, Bristol, October 2020
Smak, M32 cycle path, Bristol, October 2020
Smak, M32 cycle path, Bristol, October 2020
Smak, Curtis Hylton, Ments and Sled One, Clift House Road, Bristol, October 2020
Smak, Curtis Hylton, Ments and Sled One, Clift House Road, Bristol, October 2020
Smak, Clift House Road, Bristol, October 2020
Smak, Clift House Road, Bristol, October 2020
Smak, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2020
Smak, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2020
Smak, M32 Spot, Bristol, September 2020
Smak, M32 Spot, Bristol, September 2020
Smak, Alfred Street, Bristol, September 2020
Smak, Alfred Street, Bristol, September 2020
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2020
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2020
Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2020
Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2020
Pekoe and Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2020
Pekoe and Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2020
Tom Miller, Smak and Sled One, Nova Scotia, Bristol, July 2020
Tom Miller, Smak and Sled One, Nova Scotia, Bristol, July 2020
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2020
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2020
Hazard and Smak, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2020
Hazard and Smak, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2020
Smak, Frome side, Bristol, June 2020
Smak, Frome side, Bristol, June 2020
Smak, Hereford Street, Bristol, April 2019
Smak, Hereford Street, Bristol, April 2019
Smak, M32 cycle path, Bristol, May 2018
Smak, M32 cycle path, Bristol, May 2018
Smak, Upper York Street, Bristol, April 2020
Smak, Upper York Street, Bristol, April 2020
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2020
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2020
Smak, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2020
Smak, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2020
Smak, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2020
Smak, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2020
Smak, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2020
Smak, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2020
Smak, L Dub, Bristol, January 2020
Smak, L Dub, Bristol, January 2020
Smak, Brunel Way bridge, Bristol, January 2020
Smak, Brunel Way bridge, Bristol, January 2020
Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2019
Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2019
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, November 2019
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, November 2019
Smak, L Dub, Bristol, October 2019
Smak, L Dub, Bristol, October 2019
Smak, M32 cycle path, Bristol, June 2019
Smak, M32 cycle path, Bristol, June 2019
Smak, M32 cycle path, Bristol, May 2019
Smak, M32 cycle path, Bristol, May 2019
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, May 2019
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, May 2019
Smak, Upper York Street, Bristol, April 2019
Smak, Upper York Street, Bristol, April 2019
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2019
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2019
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2019
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2019
Smak and Sled One, Nelson Street, Bristol, March 2019
Smak and Sled One, Nelson Street, Bristol, March 2019
Smak, Nelson Street, Bristol, March 2019
Smak, Nelson Street, Bristol, March 2019
Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2019
Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2019
Smak, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Smak, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Smak, Lower Ashley Road, Bristol, January 2019
Smak, Lower Ashley Road, Bristol, January 2019
Smak, Wilder Street, Bristol, December 2018
Smak, Wilder Street, Bristol, December 2018
Smak, Wilder Street, Bristol, December 2018
Smak, Wilder Street, Bristol, December 2018
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, November 20189
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, November 20189
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2018
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2018
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2018
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2018
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2018
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2018
Smak, Tower Hill, Bristol, August 2018
Smak, Tower Hill, Bristol, August 2018
Smak, Tower Hill, Bristol, August 2018
Smak, Tower Hill, Bristol, August 2018
Smak, Ashton Road, Bristol, September 2018
Smak, Ashton Road, Bristol, September 2018
Smak, Hepburn Road, Bristol, March 2018
Smak, Hepburn Road, Bristol, March 2018
Smak, Moon Street, Bristol, March 2018
Smak, Moon Street, Bristol, March 2018
Sled One and Smak, Moon Street, Bristol, April 2016
Sled One and Smak, Moon Street, Bristol, April 2016
Smak, Raleigh Road, Bristol, January 2018
Smak, Raleigh Road, Bristol, January 2018
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2018
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2018
Smak, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, October 2017
Smak, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, October 2017
Smak, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Smak, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Smak, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Smak, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2016
Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2016
Smak, The Bearpit, Bristol, June 2017
Smak, The Bearpit, Bristol, June 2017