6568. M32 roundabout J3 (642)

Astrea, M32 roundabout, Bristol, November 2024
Astrea, M32 roundabout, Bristol, November 2024

One of the most rewarding things about writing a blog on street art and graffiti is that if you do it for long enough, you get to see new artists burst on to the scene and develop their ideas and improve their technique. An artist who has recently caught my eye is Astrea (formerly HNH), whose distinctive black and white designs are becoming more frequent and elaborate.

Astrea, M32 roundabout, Bristol, November 2024
Astrea, M32 roundabout, Bristol, November 2024

This is the first time I have seen Astrea add a portrait to her abstract patterns. The central character is a little bit unsettling, with star eye makeup and a tongue sticking out. The tongue looks like it has stitching running through it. The surrounding swirling design is very much in keeping with what we have seen before from Astrea. Great to see her gaining in confidence.

6555. Frome Side (44)

Astrea, Frome Side, Bristol, November 2024
Astrea, Frome Side, Bristol, November 2024

Astrea is finding her feet in the Bristol street art scene and has been developing at pace. The first time I encountered her work was on a hot summer’s day in Muriel Alleyway for the mini street art festival organised by Rtiiika. Now her work can even be found in the difficult-to-access Frome Side spot, underneath the M32.

Astrea, Frome Side, Bristol, November 2024
Astrea, Frome Side, Bristol, November 2024

Astrea’s abstract designs in black and white, remind me a little of Prince’s squiggle, when he was represented by a symbol. This column piece is imaginative, and although her finishing needs a little work, she has painted a fairly intricate pattern. My eye keeps getting drawn to the lower right-hand side of the piece where one of the squiggles looks a little bit like a dancing figure. It is so good to see Astrea getting out and and about practising her artwork.

6512. Greenbank (139)

Astrea, Greenbank, Bristol, October 2024
Astrea, Greenbank, Bristol, October 2024

I tend to get quite excited when new artists begin to make a mark with their work, especially when you can see a style develop and confidence grow with each new piece. Astrea, who when I first encountered her operated under the moniker of HNH, is one such artist, and I am enjoying the challenge of finding her work in a variety of Bristol spots.

Astrea, Greenbank, Bristol, October 2024
Astrea, Greenbank, Bristol, October 2024

Astrea’s abstract style is different and refreshing. It looks like she has used paint brushes in this piece to be able to get such sharp lines. The overall effect is aesthetically pleasing with curved lines framing the whole thing nicely. The two-tone colour selection is very effective, although I think that the circle at the top should have been filed with the brilliant white used for the rest of the fills. Excellent and original work from Astrea.

6500. Dean Lane skate park (744)

Astrea (HNH), Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2024
Astrea (HNH), Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2024

Astrea, formerly known as HNH, first came on to my radar at the Muriel Alleyway mini street art festival earlier this year where she decorated a garage shutter with her striking and unusual style. Astrea’s designs are intricate and hint at letters, although it is the overall effect that is king. In this piece, you can make out the letters HNH.

Astrea (HNH), Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2024
Astrea (HNH), Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2024

I am very much enjoying seeing her work popping up around the place, but sadly have missed the boat on two pieces, one under the M32 and the other in Peel Street Green, where I arrived a day too late, which was gutting. This modest black and white piece is painted on one of the skate ramps and makes a statement albeit quietly.

6456. Muriel Alleyway (16)

HNH, Muriel Alleyway, Bristol, August 2024
HNH, Muriel Alleyway, Bristol, August 2024

This piece was painted back at the end of July at the Muriel Alleyway mini paint festival organised by Rtiiika by an artist I have not encountered before called HNH. This is the first piece I am aware of that she has painted in Bristol, and I am really looking forward to watching her development. She has already dropped a few more pieces about the place and I think she brings something very different to the graffiti writing scene.

HNH, Muriel Alleyway, Bristol, August 2024
HNH, Muriel Alleyway, Bristol, August 2024

Shutter pieces are never easy to paint, but HNH has had a bloody good go with this one, and although the piece may seem a little rough around the edges, this is a great start. If I could use a parallel, what she does with graffiti writing reminds me of what the Cocteau Twins did with music and lyrics, if that makes any sense at all. Watch this space for more from HNH.