Tag: NEVERGIVEUP

3551. The Bearpit (191)

The same place, the same artist, the same year (2017) as my last post, but a different character piece. Many readers will be familiar with Nevergiveup’s rabbits, but fewer might remember that he went through a phase of painting monsters. It is funny how he abandoned these in favour of the bunnies.

Nevergiveup, The Bearpit, Bristol, June 2017
Nevergiveup, The Bearpit, Bristol, June 2017

This one in The Bearpit (RIP) is beautifully sprayed in chrome on a red background… a rather gentle looking monster, not very menacing. These framed boards in The Bearpit were a perfect place for artists to showcase their work. Unfortunately taggers and some antisocial behaviour ultimately led to the removal of these boards and application of anti-graffiti paint. I haven’t been to The Bearpit for about two years, but nobody can take away my memories.

3550. The Bearpit (190)

Taking a trip through my archives is a bitter-sweet experience, and nothing sums that feeling up better than this wonderful old rabbit piece from Nevergiveup (Followmyrabbits). Bitter, because it was taken in The Bearpit in its prime, when artists had the freedom to paint the boards there without reproach and there was an atmosphere and creative buzz about the place. Two years ago, Bristol City Council turned this vibrant space into a sterile, utilitarian, CCTVd void… exactly what they wanted.

Nevergiveup, The Bearpit, Bristol, June 2017
Nevergiveup, The Bearpit, Bristol, June 2017

This is one of Nevergiveup’s early rabbits, and by looking at this you can see just how much his work has evolved since 2017, when he had only recently arrived in Bristol. He has certainly left his mark in the city since that time with literally hundreds of these little characters populating the city.

 

3623. Purdown HAA Battery (2)

It feels rather peculiar to be saying that I haven’t posted or even seen anything by Nevergiveup (AKA Followmyrabbits) for ages, because throughout 2018-2020 he was probably the most prolific street artist in Bristol. I was so pleased to find this rabbit up at Purdown, and from the look of it it seems to be quite recent, although I might be mistaken.

Nevergiveup, Purdown, Bristol, February 2021
Nevergiveup, Purdown, Bristol, February 2021

There is another give away that this is a more recent piece and that is it is signed Eldey, which is something the artist has only been doing for the last few months or so. How well his fills have developed over the years and his rabbits have become more and more individual. I really must do a gallery soon to show his progress over the years. Great to see this bunny.

3335. Cattle Market Road (7)

I found these bunnies quite a while back, but like to spread out my posts of Nevergiveup’s (Eldey’s) work otherwise you might get overwhelmed with cuddly rabbits and that simply wouldn’t do.

Nevergiveup, Cattle Market Road, Bristol, June 2020
Nevergiveup, Cattle Market Road, Bristol, June 2020

This pair of rather cool rabbits reside in the tunnel under Temple Meads station alongside a whole world of hidden and rather forgotten burners and throw ups. Unfortunately the taggers got to these rabbits long before I did, although I have a feeling I have some older pictures that might be cleaner in my archives – finding them would be troublesome though.

Nevergiveup, Cattle Market Road, Bristol, June 2020
Nevergiveup, Cattle Market Road, Bristol, June 2020

Looking like a comedy double act – Cannon and Ball or Little and Large spring to mind, these charming characters add a bit of fun to our ordinary lives.

3275. M32 Spot (87)

Welcome to the first day of November, and as we wake up in England, we prepare ourselves for a month-long lock down starting on Thursday. I don’t think I relish the prospect and it will be very tough for many people, however I believe it to be the right action to protect people like my mother and her partner, vulnerable and sick people.

It is a pity it comes on the back of ten years of self-imposed austerity, an ideological decision made by the Tory government. An already struggling nation are once again being asked to make sacrifices to protect an underfunded NHS. It didn’t have to pan out this way, but Johnson and his ERG-fuelled right-wingers have ruined this country all so that capitalism can offer its rewards to self-interested money makers, sod the rest of us.

Rant over. Some lovely bunnies in the M32 Spot for a bit of Autumn cheer From the tireless Nevergiveup (Followmyrabbits, Eldey)

Nevergiveup, M32 Spot, October 2020
Nevergiveup, M32 Spot, October 2020

A rather nice Pair of rabbits squeezed onto a column. That is some green!

3252. Brunel Way bridge (65)

There is no stopping Nevergiveup, AKA Followmyrabbits, AKA Eldey (is that LD?), and that is a very, very good thing. I think that the tireless painting of rabbits all over the city over the last two to three years has added to Bristol’s character and amplified it’s rich street art culture, making it more accessible to more people. Some people (other than people like me) actually collect rabbits.

Nevergiveup, Brunel Way, Bristool, October 2020
Nevergiveup, Brunel Way, Bristool, October 2020

It is always fun to find another rabbit, although there are so many it can be difficult sometimes to remember if you have seen it before. I am pretty certain that I haven’t posted this one before, and I can tell it is a recent one, because he hasn’t been writing Eldey on his rabbits for all that long. As always perfectly executed, and potential for a Thursday doors post too..

3235. John Street (7)

Regular readers of Natural Adventures will be very familiar with this artist although may not have seen anything even remotely like this from him before, indeed I am not too sure I have. It is by Nevergiveup or Followmyrabbits – he has several names, and I think he might also go under the name of Eldey.

Nevergiveup, John Street, Bristol, September 2020
Nevergiveup, John Street, Bristol, September 2020

The battle of Britain is beautifully commemorated in this mural featuring a spitfire and Union flag and Polish flag. Nevergiveup is Polish and of course Poland was an ally during the second world war and many Poles joined the RAF and became fighter pilots – there is a story being told here. The piece has a lot of movement going on and the spitfire itself is really well done – such an unusual piece for Bristol and from this artist. Great to see.

3116. Dean Lane skate park (339)

Every year, usually in May I think, there is a special event held at Dean Lane skate park called Dean Lane Hardcore. It is a skating event with live music, where the good, the bad and the ugly of Bristol gather to hang out and have a great time. DLH is also a great time for street artists to show off their talent.

Nevergiveup, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2020
Nevergiveup, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2020

This piece shows three Nevergiveup rabbits holding up score cards to judge the skaters’ performances. The craziness of these guys reflects well the craziness of the event itself. Beautifully painted and perfectly in context, this little trio is a real winning piece.

3088. Dean Lane skate park (335)

A rather sweet pair of cuddly rabbits squeezed onto a small wall under the large ramp at Dean Lane skate park by none other than Nevergiveup or Followmyrabbits. Natural Adventures wouldn’t be Natural Adventures without regular posts containing these ubiquitous bunnies.

Nevergiveup, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2020
Nevergiveup, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2020

This pairing looks like a rather quick piece from Nevergiveup and I am guessing that it didn’t take too long, such is his expertise at creating these little characters. I suspect it was a quick one because the decoration is a little less elaborate than we have been used to of late. This wall gets tagged and dogged really quickly, so turnover here is very high. Nothing lasts long here, not even rabbits.

3019. M32 roundabout J3 (223)

Yet another outstanding piece from the Poland v Spain paint jam at the end of May, although this one is by an artist who appears frequently on Natural Adventures, but you are more likely to know him for his charming Rabbits. It is of course Nevergiveup AKA #followmyrabbits AKA NGU AKA in this case Zbok. I expect he has several other personas from the past too.

Nevergiveup, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2020
Nevergiveup, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2020

The only way to desribe this piece of writing is utter class, I mean it really is outstandingly beautiful and crafted with such precision and care. This is from an artist who is immensely versatile and creative.

Nevergiveup, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2020
Nevergiveup, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2020

If you look carefully, you will see that the piece spells out ZBOK (which I think means ‘deviant’ in Polish). The smokey purple puffs are the cherry on this particularly sensational cake.

Poland 5 Spain 3