Tag: Sky High

5884. Brunel Way (261)

SkyHigh, Brunel Way, Bristol, March 2024
SkyHigh, Brunel Way, Bristol, March 2024

How great it is that ShyHigh and Roo have friends/family in Bristol, because it means that if we get lucky, they swing by to visit and while here, decorate a few walls for us. Their latest visit yielded this exceptional piece from SkyHigh on the fat pillar wall underneath Brunel Way. Roo also painted a few nearby spots (to follow).

SkyHigh, Brunel Way, Bristol, March 2024
SkyHigh, Brunel Way, Bristol, March 2024

As I would expect, the large piece from SkyHigh is a wonderful mash up of letter styles to create the whole words SKY HIGH. Each letter is perfectly presented, and although discrete, somehow works with the letters adjacent. I love the ‘paper-based’ letters, ‘S’ written on note paper and the ‘i’ written on a ‘Hello my name is’ sticker. Brilliant work from a brilliant and creative writer. Come back soon.

2878. Upfest 2016 (173)

Like many of these archive posts from Upfests passim, it is hard to understand why I haven’t posted this one from SkyHigh and Roo before. I can only think that it is because I never got a clean shot of the finished collaboration.

SkyHigh and Roo, Upfest 2016, Bristol, July 2016
SkyHigh and Roo, Upfest 2016, Bristol, July 2016

These two London-based artists collaborate often, and where you find a SkyHigh piece, there is usually a Roo piece nearby. I took these pictures just as Roo (who previously I have assigned a male gender – dammit) was putting the finishing touches to her work. I suspect the lower right hand quadrant is not quite finished in these pictures.

SkyHigh, Upfest 2016, Bristol, July 2016
SkyHigh, Upfest 2016, Bristol, July 2016

The SkyHigh half of the collaboration spells out SKY in his characteristic variety of block letters, each different from the next, and the colours used here are incredibly bright and cheerful. This is first class graffiti writing.

Roo, Upfest 2016, Bristol, July 2016
Roo, Upfest 2016, Bristol, July 2016

Roo has painted what I think is a dog, but looks a lot like a moose without antlers to me. The mischievous character has been spraying the letters Roo in magenta paint on the wall behind – a nice idea executed really well. This is a fine collaboration and I can only apologise for not sharing it before. (lots more apologies to come as I continue to scour the archives).

2700. Shoreditch, London (37)

Continuing with some pictures from a (not so recent) visit to Shoreditch, I thought I’d share this rather atypical piece by SkyHigh. Regular readers will be familiar with his exceptional graffiti art pieces where each letter in the word SKYHIGH has its own unique font and style. This however is something completely different.

SkyHigh, Shoreditch, London, November 2018
SkyHigh, Shoreditch, London, November 2018

SkyHigh’s command of his craft is clear when he can paint something like this amazing kingfisher, which at first glance I thought might have been by Aspire. I’d love to know what it is about kingfishers that so many artists depict them… note to self, do a ‘kingfisher special’ some day. This is a magnificent piece by a magnificent artist of a magnificent bird.

1721. Dean Lane skate park (164)

When I first saw this remarkable piece on Instagram I knew I had to get down to Dean Lane as soon as possible to see it before it got buffed or dogged. It is by the brilliant SkyHigh, who was obviously on a flying trip to Bristol.

SkyHigh, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2018
SkyHigh, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2018

SkyHigh’s works can probably best be described as writing out his name in a mash-up of different block letter styles and colours. To some it might look messy, but to others this is a considered and stunning way to put a piece together. I love his work, and this is one of those pieces that looks great in a photograph…and even better in the flesh. I was pleased to have been able to see it. Top work. Nice little tribute to CKone and nod to his painting pal Roo.

1332. M32 Spot (14)

What a nice surprise this was. I had been told there were some new pieces down by the M32, but nobody had said there was a new SkyHigh piece and that it was really good. I have featured SkyHigh a few times in this blog, posting pieces in Bristol and in London, but I think that this is my favourite so far.

SkyHigh, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2018
SkyHigh, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2018

He spacialises in combining different designed letter block fonts spelling out the word SKYHIGH, and as a whole it becomes an interesting form of wildstyle writing. It is not so much cryptic as it is creative and technically attractive.i love this piece and I think the colour scheme works perfectly in this site. Top marks.

1230. Leake Street tunnel, London (4)

Over the Christmas break, I took a train from Waterloo to Woking to visit the inlaws. I allowed myself some extra time to take a quick look at the graffiti art in Leake Street tunnel which runs under Waterloo Station. There was a great deal of wildstyle writing which I was not familiar with – London art is still a bit of a mystery to me – but I did recognise a couple of pieces by Sky High, of which this is one.

Sky High, Leake Street, London, December 2017
Sky High, Leake Street, London, December 2017

I know his work from visits he has made to Bristol in the past to Moon Street, Magdalen Place and Dean Lane. The piece features his characteristic block lettering in multiple styles and a curious snake at the left hand end. I have to say I am not sure about the snake, it is incongruous and I think the piece would be better without it. Maybe that is just me though.

SkyHigh, Moon Street, Bristol, July 2016
SkyHigh, Moon Street, Bristol, July 2016
Sky High, Magdalene Place, Bristol, June 2016
Sky High, Magdalene Place, Bristol, June 2016
Sky High, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2016
Sky High, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2016

707. Moon Street (26)

Sky High is no stranger to the streets of Bristol and I have posted pieces by him in Magdalene Place and in Dean Lane previously. I think he is based in London, but it is always nice when he visits. This piece appeared at the same time as Upfest 2016, and although I am not aware that he was a guest artist at the event, he might well have come for the buzz, and left a little present for us.

SkyHigh, Moon Street, Bristol, July 2016
SkyHigh, Moon Street, Bristol, July 2016

Sky High has a wonderful take on wildstyle writing, which is to spell out Sky High with block lettering, each letter in a different style and colour. The overall effect is really colourful and imaginative. Definitely one for those with a designer’s eye. It would be good to see a return this year.

SkyHigh, Moon Street, Bristol, July 2016
SkyHigh, Moon Street, Bristol, July 2016

439. Magdalen Place (1)

Hot on the heels of the previous post is another grand piece by Sky High. This one rather pre-dates the one in Dean Lane, and is in another part of Bristol entirely. When I took the photograph (back in June), I thought this was a collaboration because of the names of Deam and RPM on the periphery, but I guess this was just a respect thing going on – maybe they sprayed with him on the day.

Sky High, Magdalene Place, Bristol, June 2016
Sky High, Magdalene Place, Bristol, June 2016

Sky High’s pieces are so vibrant and the block lettering is in such a distinctive style. So far these are the only two of his works that I have seen, but both of them are winners. I’ll be looking out for more of his work on my trips to London.

Sky High, Magdalene Place, Bristol, June 2016
Sky High, Magdalene Place, Bristol, June 2016

438. Dean Lane skate park (18)

A short while after Upfest, this wonderful piece appeared at Dean Park. Sky High is a writer whose work spells out ‘Sky High’ using different styles and colours for each of the letters set on a contrasting and interesting backdrop. This work is typical and really wonderful.

Sky High, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2016
Sky High, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2016

His colour selections and lettering are exceptional. The piece didn’t last very long at all. This particular wall sometimes only lasts a day before being painted over. During Upfest it was painted twice in one day. More of Sky High’s work to come in my next post.