122. Dean Lane (4)

I love Dean Lane. It is a road that joins Coronation Road, which runs alongside the New Cut, with North Street, and at its southern end plays host to some of the most creative street art in the area. There is a public swimming pool and skate park on Dean Lane, and both are plastered with graffiti and street art.

Beastie, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2016
Beastie, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2016

This piece by Beastie is curious. It is a wheatpaste of an Ordnance Survey map that has a sketchy drawing and some spray work on it. Just to add to its quirkiness, somebody has subsequently added a pink sticker.

Beastie, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2016
Beastie, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2016

I make no secret of the fact that I am particularly fond of wheatpastes, and this one is a beauty.

8/10

121. Soldeu, Andorra (3)

This is the last of three short blogs about graffiti/street art in Soldeu. I had a little time to kill on our last day before heading home, so I went for a short walk from the top to the bottom of the village. At the lower end I discovered this small work that was more complex than graffiti and appeared to be a an abstract mural. There is nothing else like it in the village.

Unknown artist, Soldeu, Andorra, February 2016
Unknown artist, Soldeu, Andorra, February 2016

I like that it has been sprayed on a rather utilitarian electricity building, to brighten it up a little.

On the coach journey to Barcelona Airport I was treated to hundreds of burners under road bridges and on industrial buildings. I will have to return for a weekend break.

4/10

120. Soldeu, Andorra (2)

I have taken a couple of detours on the way to and returning from the slopes this week. Here are two more scribbles, interestingly both of fish.

Fish graffiti, Soldeu, Andorra
Fish graffiti, Soldeu, Andorra

I have one more chance tomorrow morning to see if there is any more graffiti in Soldeu before we head home via Barcelona. On the subject of Barcelona, I am troubled that we won’t have time to stop over before our flight home. Barcelona will have to wait for another trip.

119. Soldeau, Andorra (1)

There is little in the way of street art that I have been able to find, so far, but there are one or two graffiti hotspots. What I find most interesting is that the handwriting style of the tags is quite distinct and different from the style you see in the UK.

 

All taggers unknown. Maybe some future talent here?

 

118. Hepburn Road (1)

I am going to be clear about this. I want to find more pieces by Face F1st. I love the simplicity of the lines. The sentiment of the faces. The cool colours.

I have not been able to find out much about the artist other than that they belong to the PWA (Pirate Wall Art) crew.

Face Fist, Hepburn Road, Bristol, January 2016
Face Fist, Hepburn Road, Bristol, January 2016

This little side street in Stokes Croft is bursting with street art with a very high turnover. There is a lot more to come from here.

8/10

 

117. Dean Lane (3)

On previous occasions when I have tried to photograph this Andy Council whale, there have been vehicles parked, on the grass, right up to it. I finally got a clear shot at it during a recent walk to Bedminster.

Andy Council, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2016
Andy Council, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2016

The style is unmistakable…a natural form created from architectural elements, usually recognisable Bristol landmarks.

Andy Council, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2016
Andy Council, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2016

This piece was painted during Upfest 2015 and is one of my favourites by Andy Council.

Andy Council, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2016
Andy Council, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2016

8/10

New arrival

 

It came in the post.

Unspeakably excited;

Ericailcane.

 

by Scooj

116. Gloucester Road, No 212

Room 212 is an art shop that promotes and sells the works of local artists, on the Gloucester Road about half way between Bishopston and Horfield. To my shame I have not yet visited the shop, but having looked at their website, I will make a visit soon, if only to buy a Stewy print.

Above the shop front is a fabulous stencil of Cary Grant sitting cross legged and waving to passers by.

Cary Grant by Stewy, Gloucester Road, Bristol
Cary Grant by Stewy, Gloucester Road, Bristol

Stewy specialises in artworks of iconic people and tends to spray them close to where they live/once lived. In this case, Cary Grant (Archibald Leach) lived very nearby, and went to the local primary school in Bishop Road before heading out to the USA. Locals are very proud of their world famous son.

This is a typically understated stencil by Stewy, and hits the mark perfectly.

8.5/10

115. Raleigh Road, Tobacco Factory (1)

The Tobacco Factory is a fabulous multi-use centre in Bedminster, Bristol. It was saved from demolition by George Ferguson, currently the Mayor of Bristol, and forms a central hub for urban regeneration in the area and is something of a cultural magnet.

The car park has been one of the spaces opened up during the Upfest street art festivals, indeed it more resembles an outdoor gallery than a car park.

Anat Ronen, Raleigh Road, Bristol, January 2016
Anat Ronen, Raleigh Road, Bristol, January 2016

This striking piece is by Anat Ronen and was painted as part of the 2015 festival. Anat is a self-taught artist based in Houston who started painting as a way of life only in 2009. Her work is beautiful and I would recommend a visit to her website.

8/10

114. Pallant North, Chichester (2)

My mother tipped me off about this one a couple of weeks ago when she saw it on a shopping trip in Chichester. I cannot express how pleased I was, firstly that my mum is quite cool and secondly that JPS has hit Chichester with one of my favourite stencils.

JPS, North Pallant, Chichester
JPS, North Pallant, Chichester

I wrote about this stencil (in Bristol) in my second street art blog, and it remains one of my favourite works of any street artist.

JPS, North Pallant, Chichester
JPS, North Pallant, Chichester

Chichester is one of those cities that has no culture of street art, but held a festival in 2013 (I think), so it is all a bit organised if you know what I mean. The JPS piece adds a little bit of spice as I’m not too sure it was a part of the festival.

Wonderful.

9/10