1773. St Werburghs tunnel (41)

In this piece, we have everything that I like about the Bristol street art scene. First, it is a collaboration between Tasha Bee and Soap – firm friends and painting buddies. Second it is bright and vibrant and in a highly stylised form. Third, the location, St Werburghs tunnel is just sooo Bristol.

Tasha Bee and Soap, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2018
Tasha Bee and Soap, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2018

The two characters in the collaboration work so very well together and the colours read-across seamlessly. I am more used to seeing the large mouths that Soap is recognised for, and indeed there is a hint of that on the hat of his character, but it is this wonderfully expressive face that he paints from time to time that I really like. I was so happy to come across this piece, especially as the turnover in the tunnel is particularly high at the moment.

1705. St Werburghs tunnel (40)

At one time, maybe two or three years ago, there were new Mr Klue works appearing in the Stokes Croft area on a fairly regular basis. These days they seem to be something of a rarity until a recent spate of his pieces in St Werburghs tunnel.

Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, August 2018
Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, August 2018

This is a wonderful complex abstract piece with what look to me like floating wooden planks drawing the eye to a celestial central vanishing point. It is a clever piece and I find my eyes dancing all around looking at the detail of different sections and trying to work out what is going on. His style really is quite unlike anything else on the streets in Bristol and his return is a most welcome one.

1698. St Werburghs tunnel (39)

Well, who might this gothic wildstyle writing be by? There is a clue in the writing, but it is so cryptic that you probably need to know what you are looking for to be able to see it. The writing says HIRE, and it is indeed the work of this naturalised Bristolian of Polish origin.

Hire, St Werburghs, Bristol, August 2018
Hire, St Werburghs, Bristol, August 2018

His work is so distinctive, with its long, sharp and jagged lines – his pieces always remind me of medieval battle scenes, with swords, axes and lances crashing in all directions – maybe that is just me, but I say what I see. I am really pleased with the picture above, because the light in the tunnel plays havoc with my camera and the poor lighting in the tunnel meets with bright light outside where this piece is situated. Nice work from Hire.

1697. St Werburghs tunnel (38)

Hurrah, it is great to find one of Laic217’s distorted face pieces, it feels like an absolute age since I last saw one, he has mostly been spraying skeletons and skulls of late, so this is a welcome return.

Laic217, St Werburghs, Bristol, August 2018
Laic217, St Werburghs, Bristol, August 2018

This is one of a pair of pieces sprayed side by side in St Werburghs tunnel in early August by the artist, and of the two I would say I slightly prefer it although both are excellent. I really do like his work, and for as long as he keeps putting them out there, I will continue to photograph them and write about them…if I find them. Those eyes!

1658. St Werburghs tunnel (37)

Oner has made his mark is Bristol lately with his rather attarctive burners popping up all over the city. This particular one was in St Werburghs tunnel, which is fast becoming a “go to” regular spot for me because the work there seems to be on an improving trajectory.

Oner, St Werburghs, Bristol, July 2018
Oner, St Werburghs, Bristol, July 2018

This burner is nice and clean and brings a bit of light into the tunnel. The black shading is nicely done, but I’m not too sure about the pink decorative squiggles.

1656. St Werburghs tunnel (36)

Only recently on my radar, and now I see her work everywhere. This is a great fun piece by Pekoe in St Werburghs tunnel (a spot that is hosting some really great art lately) which displays her trademark third eye and female portrait.

Pekoe, St Werburghs, Bristol, August 2018
Pekoe, St Werburghs, Bristol, August 2018

What make this particular piece so appealing in my eyes is the nicely crafted bubblegum and the way it obscures all that lies behind it with just a hint of transparency. I am enjoying my voyage of discovery with this artist.

1654. St Werburghs tunnel (35)

Gloopy dayglow acid house skeleton courtesy of Laic217. Is there any more to say about this wonderful piece in St Werburghs tunnel? Well as it happens there probably is…for example I rather like the way he has made his name stand out as if raised from the wall by the skilful application of light and dark shading on the edges of the letters – great technique.

Laic 217, St Werburghs, Bristol, August 2018
Laic 217, St Werburghs, Bristol, August 2018

I feel like I haven’t seen much of his work lately and I know I have missed several pieces, but it is always nice to catch one when in the right place at the right time. Where will I find the spray can skeleton next?

Laic 217, St Werburghs, Bristol, August 2018
Laic 217, St Werburghs, Bristol, August 2018

1637. St Werburghs tunnel (35)

It would appear that when Inuk came to visit Bristol recently he may have painted two or three pieces. This is the second that I am posting, and the first that I found. I didn’t write about it straight away because at the time of taking the picture I didn’t know the artist.

Inuk, St Werburghs, Bristol, July 2018
Inuk, St Werburghs, Bristol, July 2018

The writing is big and bold and spells out INUcK, which I guess is a variation on his name. I very much like the little character at the right hand end of the piece, who offers a little additional interest and decoration on the work.

1634. St Werburghs tunnel (34)

It feels like a while since I saw anything by Soge, so this writing in St Werburghs tunnel recently was a nice surprise. I think it was created during the paint jam which included a lot of PWA artists.

Soge, St Werburghs, Bristol, July 2018
Soge, St Werburghs, Bristol, July 2018

Soge, like Hire, uses a rather gothic style in his writing, which may be something they have brought with them from Poland, as it is not a style I see much of from any of the local artists. The letters SOGE are easy to pick out, although the lighting in the tunnel doesn’t really do the piece justice. Strangely I haven’t yet met Soge and so can’t really tell you too much about him.

1623. St Werburghs tunnel (33)

I think I am in love with Tasha Bee’s work…there I’ve said it. I don’t know what it is about her style that presses all of my buttons, but there is something. Maybe it is the slightly 60s look and feel, maybe it is the colour palettes she uses, maybe it is the simplicity of expressions on her subjects or maybe it is that she does awesome collaborations with Face 1st. It is probably all of these and more.

Tasha Bee, St Werburghs, Bristol, July 2018
Tasha Bee, St Werburghs, Bristol, July 2018

This was one of two pieces I recently photographed in St Werburghs tunnel, lucky me, and each of them is equally good. The only dowenside is their location in the tunnel – the lighting is always so tricky. I think I might have got away with it this time…just.