4434. L Dub (37)

At the edge of the tunnel at L Dub, we can see from this tidy piece, just what an accomplished artist DJ Perks is becoming. DJ Perks is never one to shy away from pushing the envelope and in this piece he has created a superb writing/character combination that is unlike other pieces he has created. He really is a talent.

DJ Perks, L Dub, Bristol, April 2022
DJ Perks, L Dub, Bristol, April 2022

I have a feeling that this piece was painted alongside artists from the LRS crew during a bit of a paint jam in April. The letters ‘L Dub’ are beautifully designed and have a strength about them, as well as being superbly filled. The character is something of a classic, but more than that it is painted with wonderful shades and shadows, offering some depth to the character. This is great work from an artist on the up.

4433. Cumberland Basin

I think that I have photographed this column piece by John D’oh pretty much every time I have visited this spot, always with the intention of posting it, but somehow it hasn’t made it onto Natural Adventures. Well it has now, and is a great record of the crazy world we have been living in over the last two years. Capturing pieces like this is to record history as portrayed through the work of some amazing street artists.

John D'oh, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2022
John D’oh, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2022

John D’oh has sprayed this witty stencil, reminding us to keep our social distancing to 2 metres which roughly translates to Bristol croc’s length. This references many local stories about a Bristol crocodile, thanks in no small part to another fine street artist, Rowdy. The Bristol crocodile story dates back to at least 2014, and relies on repeated sightings of crocodiles in various watercourses. Some are fakes and some are recently ‘dumped’ pet crocodiles that get released irresponsibly. The Bristol crocodile has become quite a thing though.

Mudra

A gallery of outstanding work from Bristol street artist and writer Mudra

Instagram: @mudra_creates

Website: Mudra creates

all photographs by Scooj

Mudra, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2023
Mudra, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2023
Mudra, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2023
Mudra, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2023
Mudra, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2023
Mudra, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2023
Mudra, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2023
Mudra, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2023
Mudra, Kosc and Saor, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2023
Mudra, Kosc and Saor, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2023
Mudra and Saor, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2023
Mudra and Saor, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2023
Mudra, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2023
Mudra, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2023
Mudra, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, April 2023
Mudra, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, April 2023
Mudra and Peggy, Elton Street, Bristol, April 2023
Mudra and Peggy, Elton Street, Bristol, April 2023
Mudra, St Werburghs, Bristol, January 2023
Mudra, St Werburghs, Bristol, January 2023
Mudra, Brunel Way, Bristol, January 2023
Mudra, Brunel Way, Bristol, January 2023
Mudra, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, December 2022
Mudra, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, December 2022
Mudra and Peggy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2022
Mudra and Peggy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2022
Mudra, M32 Spot, Bristol, November 2022
Mudra, M32 Spot, Bristol, November 2022
Mudra, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2022
Mudra, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2022
Mudra, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2022
Mudra, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2022
Decay and Mudra, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022
Decay and Mudra, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022
Mudra, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2022
Mudra, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2022
Mudra, Elton Street, Bristol, April 2022
Mudra, Elton Street, Bristol, April 2022
Mudra, Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2022
Mudra, Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2022
Mudra, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2022
Mudra, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2022
Mudra and Kosc, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2022
Mudra and Kosc, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2022
Mudra, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2022
Mudra, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2022
Flava136 and Mudra, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2021
Flava136 and Mudra, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2021
Mudra, Cumberland Basin, September 2021
Mudra, Cumberland Basin, September 2021
Mudra, Brunel Way, Bristol, November 2021
Mudra, Brunel Way, Bristol, November 2021
Mudra, M32 Spot, Bristol, November 2021
Mudra, M32 Spot, Bristol, November 2021
Mudra, Brunel Way, Bristol, July 2021
Mudra, Brunel Way, Bristol, July 2021
Mudra, Brunel Way, Bristol, July 2021
Mudra, Brunel Way, Bristol, July 2021
Mudra, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, August 2021
Mudra, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, August 2021
Nugmoose, Sage, Slakarts and Mudra, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2021
Nugmoose, Sage, Slakarts and Mudra, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2021
Mudra, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2021
Mudra, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2021
Nugmoose and Mudra, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2021
Nugmoose and Mudra, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2021
Mudra, Lawrence Hill Roundabout, Bristol, February 2021
Mudra, Lawrence Hill Roundabout, Bristol, February 2021
Mudra, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, January 2021
Mudra, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, January 2021
Mudra, M32 Spot, Bristol, October 2020
Mudra, M32 Spot, Bristol, October 2020
Mudra, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2020
Mudra, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2020
Mudra, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2020
Mudra, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2020
Mudra, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2020
Mudra, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2020
Mudra, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2020
Mudra, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2020

4432. Dean Lane skate park (490)

This is a rather unexpected collaboration for a number of reasons, but is as welcome as it is unexpected. Chill and Smut combining to give us this beautiful piece of writing bookended with cartoon characters.

Smut, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2022
Smut, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2022

Perhaps the most interesting thing about this collaboration is the change in style from Smut. His customary script writing has given way to something entirely different. The anamorphic letters are beautifully crafted and as you would expect from Smut painted with precision and a near-perfect orange border, which bleeds across into the two Chill characters.

Chill, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2022
Chill, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2022

To the left, the cartoon character is wearing a floppy hat and looking and pointing towards Smut’s letters. The black and white figure contrasting perfectly with the orange border.

Chill, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2022
Chill, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2022

To the right-hand side, and concluding the collaborative wall, is an almost mirror image of the opposite character, although this one is wearing a hoodie and baseball cap. The whole thing is a rather unlikely collaboration that comes together really nicely. Watch this space for some more experimental styles from Smut.

Chill and Smut, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2022
Chill and Smut, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2022

4431. Brunel Way (156)

On a regular basis, Maybe Paints manages to charm us with his imaginative and creative pieces, usually on the columns underneath Brunel Way. This piece, which is larger than many I have seen, was painted a couple of weeks ago at a height that would have required a ladder or platform to stand on – possibly an anti-tagging measure.

Maybe, Brunel Way, Bristol, April 2022
Maybe, Brunel Way, Bristol, April 2022

There is a tranquillity and serenity to most of Maybe’s work, and in this piece we see one of his stylised faces experiencing the start of the hay fever season, a significant moment in my annual cycle – the tree pollen has already got to me. Maybe’s technique of blending colours works so well, and his style is utterly unique in Bristol. I very much hope to see more from Maybe over the summer.

4430. Greenbank (35)

Pretty much my favourite collaborations are those between Billy and Merny, their naive styles complement each other so well and they both tell fabulous stories with their paintings. This collaborative wall was painted a couple of weeks ago.

Billy, Greenbank, Bristol, April 2022
Billy, Greenbank, Bristol, April 2022

To the left, as is usually the case with their collaborations, is Billy’s piece, that claims ‘it used to be different here’. It would appear that the piece is a commentary on the huge development that is going on on the other side of the hoardings. The woman in a strawberry dress, overlooking a new housing development, has the look of a Dick Bruna character, the artist who created Miffy the rabbit. Everything about this piece is perfect… the story, the artwork and the location.

Merny, Greenbank, Bristol, April 2022
Merny, Greenbank, Bristol, April 2022

To the right of Billy’s piece is a rather bleak message from Merny in which a man, perhaps a teacher, is pointing at words on a board that read ‘no one cares’. I would suggest that maybe this is a reflection of the troubled times we live in where we have  an inept and out of touch government that is looking after the interests of the wealthy. The signature numbered labels create interest and humour to the piece.

Billy and Merny, Greenbank, Bristol, April 2022
Billy and Merny, Greenbank, Bristol, April 2022

What a fabulous collaboration from these two. I was pleased to get photographs as often their pieces don’t last long, which is both irritation and disrespectful.

4428. St Werburghs tunnel (291)

Last Saturday was one of those very special red-letter days for me. I took the dog for a walk, that ended up being a bit of a marathon, during which I visited four spots and met nine or ten artists, several of them for the first time. Among the artists, it was an enormous pleasure to meet Asre, or Runaway Joey as he is known, for the first time, and very touching to find out that he knew who I was and had been keen to meet me and had even read some of my posts… my work here is done.

Asre, St Werburghs, Bristol, April 2022
Asre, St Werburghs, Bristol, April 2022

This is one of a multitude of variations on a theme by Asre, with the stylised cartoon face that we are becoming accustomed to seeing all over the place. This poor fellow looks like he has come a poor second in a boxing bout, with a severe black eye. Once again, the strong clean lines and solid fills are nicely worked, and the boxing glove provides additional interest – I like the way Asre has highlighted the glove with pink and white, giving it a cool 3D effect. There is so much more to come from this prolific artist and all round great bloke.

4427. St Werburghs tunnel (290)

Every year, it seems that Mr Klue takes some time out from painting walls, which is a pity, but it makes his return all the sweeter when it does happen. Mr Klue has been busy lately creating his outstanding pieces at the ‘farm end’ of St Werburghs tunnel, which seems to be his safe, ‘go-to’ spot.

Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, April 2022
Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, April 2022

This piece returns to a running theme in Mr Klue’s art, which is a portrayal of the Mad Hatter from Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland – a rich source of inspiration for many street artists. The exaggerated top hat with the 10/6 ticket is matched up with a shirt and tie along with a smoking cigarette. There is something slightly unsettling, but also endearing about this piece. It is always good to see Mr Klue’s work, and I hope this will be a sustained effort from the fabulous abstract artist.

4426. M32 roundabout J3 (408)

Until a couple of days ago when I posted a piece by Phour, there had been a long gap since the last one, and now today we have another one. Throughout the drought period, Phour has been painting, but I simply haven’t been able to find space to include any posts by him. My job of recording street art and graffiti in Bristol gets more difficult by the day because of the sheer amount of work that is appearing. You might have noticed that I am starting to drop three posts a day when I can, just to share as much as possible.

Phour, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2022
Phour, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2022

This one from Phour is a particularly good example of his work, with some stunning fades in his letter fills and a clean, crisp yellow border. The whole thing is set on a cosmic cloudy backdrop, which keeps it all tidy. More great work from Phour.

4425. Elton Street (6)

This is another gorgeous T-Rex piece painted as part of the recent renewal of the high hoardings in Elton Street on the outside wall of the Lost Horizons Arts Centre. T-Rex as always, has produced a very classy dinosaur on a very classy background.

T-Rex, Elton Street, Bristol, April 2022
T-Rex, Elton Street, Bristol, April 2022

Of course, the dinosaur is full of mischief, running off with a stick of dynamite in its hand – I’m not sure what the story is here other than to highlight the naughty character. The pink Tyrannosaurus Rex, which is cleverly positioned in the frame by looking backwards, has all the hallmarks of the artist… strong and solid fill and clean solid outlines. In this particular piece, the background deserves a special mention, providing a forest canopy kind of habitat. Great to see.