Tag: Street art

5022. North Street

Cheba, North Street, Bristol, February 2023
Cheba, North Street, Bristol, February 2023

Cheba’s influence on the city of Bristol cannot be underestimated. His unusual cosmic murals can be found dotted about the place, although most famously on the walls of the Full Moon and Attic Bar in North Street, just south of Stokes Croft.

Cheba, North Street, Bristol, February 2023
Cheba, North Street, Bristol, February 2023

I spotted this piece last weekend while taking a young Japanese friend on a tour of some of the best spots for graffiti and street art in Bristol (a day to savour). Although Cheba’s work might look a bit random at first, there is some form and design in this piece with a diagonal row of stars and circles going bottom left to top right. There really is nobody else in Bristol who creates cosmic scenes as good as Cheba’s.

5021. Tobacco Factory

Stephen Quick, Tobacco Factory, Bristol, February 2023
Stephen Quick, Tobacco Factory, Bristol, February 2023

I’m not quite sure if this actually qualifies as street art, even though it is by a studio/street artist, Stephen Quick, and was hanging up outside at the Tobacco Factory. The piece was for sale, alongside three or four others, in the outdoor café area. The resolution isn’t too great because it was quite dark when I took the pictures and I had to lean over some customers rather awkwardly.

Erika 0123 9-11 Feb 2023_editeda
Erika 0123 9-11 Feb 2023_editeda

I am a huge fan of Stephen Quick’s work, and have enjoyed observing him grow over the years. More than that, I think I’d really like to own an original, but I think I’d better start saving up now. This piece is called ‘Crying Woman’ and is an absolute belter. Some of you might note that the background is courtesy of Paul Monsters. I think I might have to return to the Tobacco Factory soon and take some better pictures.

5020. Dean Lane skate park (565)

Acer One, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2023
Acer One, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2023

I just happened to be in Dean Lane skate park as Acer One was starting this piece. It was quite busy down there at the time, with Silver (thank you, Paul H for reminding me) painting opposite, DJ Perks who had just finished a piece on the pool wall (I think) and Peggy was on the sloping wall near the raised skate park, painting a floral piece. I do like it when there are lots of people to chat with.

Acer One, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2023
Acer One, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2023

The wonderful piece, by Acer One, is a tribute to Shimmer, another artist taken away from us far too early in life. It is clear that Shimmer was a popular character, and there are tribute pieces all over the city dedicated to him. There is a lovely sense of order and geometry in this piece, but of course there is, it is by Acer One after all. Acer One uses a long ruler with a handle to achieve his straight lines, but you can see that he has also used the brick course to keep everything flush. A fine tribute.

5019. Brunel Way (192)

Klashwhensober, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2023
Klashwhensober, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2023

Klashwhensober is utterly relentless. I reckon that I only post about one in five of his pieces, and I currently have a lot of catching up to do. This recent piece under Brunel Way is something a little different and special from the artist, and demonstrates his versatility.

Klashwhensober, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2023
Klashwhensober, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2023

Set on a grey background and ‘stitched together’ with a blue line running up and down and across the piece, Klashwhensober’s letters ‘SOBER’ each have their own character and design. I particularly like the E and R at the right hand end. The colours work pretty well together and the 3D drop shadow does a great job in lifting the letters away from the background. An unusual offering from Klashwhensober, but one that works really well. I’d welcome more like this from him.

5018. M32 cycle path (197)

Pekoe, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, February 2023
Pekoe, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, February 2023

There has never been a time when I haven’t been absolutely made up to find a portrait piece from the wonderful Pekoe. It feels like quite a while since her last piece, so this one was a very welcome find.

Pekoe, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, February 2023
Pekoe, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, February 2023

Of course, the portrait has many of the characteristics you’d associate with Pekoe’s work; big hair, sad eyes, great shading to bring out the features and incredible presence. I would have to say that I am not entirely sure about the colour scheme, a little bit too much brown and orange for my liking, but overall this is another wonderful shot in the arm from Pekoe.

5017. L Dub (38)

Donz, L Dub, Bristol, February 2023
Donz, L Dub, Bristol, February 2023

I don’t visit L Dub (Lawrence Weston) very often, and so there is always quite a lot of new stuff to look at when I do make the trip. I have heard DJ Perks talk to me about Donz, a painting friend, many times, but this is the first time I have featured him on Natural Adventures – it will not be the last.

Donz, L Dub, Bristol, February 2023
Donz, L Dub, Bristol, February 2023

This fresh piece, spelling DONZ, is rather unusual, having white letters and borders of red , blue, pink and green – some nice original thinking going on here. This might sound strange, but I feel that there are some similarities with Benjimagnetic’s work, although a greatly simplified version of it. Perhaps it is the block patterns or the arrows, but there are several components that both artists use. Anyhow, this is a great piece to introduce Donz to Natural Adventures.

5016. Brunel Way (191)

Mote, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2023
Mote, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2023

I believe that this is a reasonably old piece from Mote on one of the columns under Brunel Way, but I have only recently photographed it – there are so many in this spot it is difficult to keep up.

Mote, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2023
Mote, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2023

Every time I have seen this piece, I instantly get images of the caped crusader and am not sure if this is deliberate or accidental on the part of Mote, who is not known for his characters drawn from popular culture, but rather from his imagination. Whatever the inspiration for this column piece, it is cheerful and fun and typically clean as you’d expect from Mote.

5015. M32 Spot (155)

Bogat, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2023
Bogat, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2023

The whole of the M32 spot has become really untidy lately, and the flyposters have been very busy covering every surface with irritating posters. I never thought I’d say it, but I reckon the whole place could do with a bloody good buffing, tidy up and starting over again. Bogat has managed to find some space on this column to paint one of his trademark faces.

Bogat, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2023
Bogat, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2023

Although relatively simple in design, Bogat’s work is captivating and packs a punch, and he has a look and feel that is quite unique in Bristol. I particularly like the red cap, which reminds me of my own personal super-hero Jacques Cousteau, who was rarely seen without one. A nice column piece from Bogat.

5014. Moon Street (101)

Cartoonneros, Moon Street, Bristol, February 2023
Cartoonneros, Moon Street, Bristol, February 2023

I first became aware of Cartoonneros when he painted a Kurt Cobain piece in Dean Lane in February 2019. I followed him on Instagram and have been intrigued by his work ever since. It is quite unlike anything we tend to see in Bristol, and although on first inspection it looks a bit untidy, his work is always really creative and imaginative.

Cartoonneros, Moon Street, Bristol, February 2023
Cartoonneros, Moon Street, Bristol, February 2023

His decision to paint in Moon Street was a good one, as this little alleyway, my favourite spot in Bristol, which is suffering slightly from neglect, is in need of some TLC from artists.

Cartoonneros, Moon Street, Bristol, February 2023
Cartoonneros, Moon Street, Bristol, February 2023

This stencil is a fabulous take on the iconic Rene Magritte “Ceci n’est pas une pipe” painting, but instead with the words “Este no es un stemal”, which literally translates as this is not a stem, although I guess stemal means pipe. Great stuff from Cartoonneros here in Bristol. He will be welcome here anytime.

5013. M32 roundabout J3 (450)

Hypo and Hemper, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2023
Hypo and Hemper, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2023

It has been a joy to watch some recent collaborations from Hypo and Hemper, and this is the most recent on the M32 roundabout. What is immediately apparent is that their styles are quite different, and that this is less a collaboration and more a painting together, and that is part of the gig, knowing that friends paint together having fun.

Hypo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2023
Hypo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2023

The Hypo piece is a rhapsody in green, accompanied by four graffiti arrows, adding a bit of dynamism to the letters. Due to the recent burst of activity by Hypo, I feel I now have enough of his pieces to post a gallery of his work, so watch this space.

Hemper, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2023
Hemper, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2023

Hemper has absolutely smashed it again with this outstanding HEMS piece, which is technically (and visually) brilliant. The burst of colours cross-faded through the lettering is masterful, and filling in the gaps between the letters with little green spheres in genius. Hemper has a knack of creating perfectly unique graffiti writing pieces every time he splashes paint on a wall. Love it.