Street art – Page 48 – Natural adventures

6963. Stokes Croft

Eska is an itinerant artist who lives a houseboat lifestyle and drifts from place to place. His stays in Bristol are always very welcome and accompanied by a number of stunning graffiti writing pieces, that bring something a little different to our streets.

This gorgeous piece is one of three high-end pieces on the hoarding around what used to be the Blue Mountain nightclub. The other pieces are by Kid Krishna and Hemper and all three are beauties. There is a lot going on in this piece, which has anamorphic writing that lifts out of the wall in a superb 3D illusion. In addition to the letters, I presume spelling ESKA, there are his tiny trademark figures, with long shadows, scattered around the ‘flat’ surfaces of the piece. There are also watery surfaces with reflections too, perhaps an oblique reference to Bristol Harbour. Eska’s work is of the highest order and I look forward to his next visit to the city.

6962. Moon Street (108)

Art Tits, Moon Street, Bristol, April 2025

Although there has been an uptick in the number of Wheatpastes appearing on Natural Adventures of late, I would still assert that Bristol isn’t really a past-up city, unlike Shoreditch and Manchester northern district, for example. However, I am enjoying finding new wheatpastes, paertly because of their rarity. Wheatpastes offer something very different from spray-painted pieces, and are notable not only for their artistic content, but also their placement.

This piece by Art Tits (Lillian Shanahan), lurks in the darkest recesses of Moon Street, a spot that was once the vibrant heart of the Stokes Croft area, but has become a bit of a backwater since regeneration and gentrification began in earnest a few years ago. I know little to nothing about the artist, and the paste-up itself is a curious amalgamation of a body builder and a doll, something that I think Art Tits works on in various artistic endeavours. I like this piece, which may have been in Moon Street for some time.

6961. M32 roundabout J3 (686)

Kid Crayon, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2025

Although this piece is a little bleached out by the strong sun, I am so pleased to have captured it at all. So many times when Kid Crayon has painted a new piece, I get down to photograph it, and it has gone. I don’t know if this is purely coincidental, or whether there is something more sinister going on. Suffice it to say that I have missed at least two pieces by him this year.

It is fantastic to see Kid Crayon getting out more often this year, after quite a long period of low productivity – due in part to his real work being very busy. In this piece, the letters CRAYON can be seen with a little reversed out KID at the start. Each letter has an individual paint treatment, with the base colours alternating through the word. The ‘O’ is represented by a character with a blue face, donning a rather fetching Eat crew baseball cap. A floating crayon in front of the character’s mouth rounds the piece off nicely. There are so many KC trademarks in this fun and uplifting piece.

6960. St Werburghs tunnel (503)

Zake has been smashing it consistently for months and years. His cartoon-style characters peer out from walls all over the city and have become a familiar sight for anyone who chooses to open their eyes.

This is an eye-catching piece in the tunnel, painted alongside numerous other artists, during a paint jam about two or three weeks ago. In this rather sinister piece, the character is wielding a dripping syringe, looking as if there is some ill intent at work. As ever, lots of light and shade creating depth in the character, and a little bit of a story too.

Varo

A gallery of creative writing from Spanish graffiti artist, Varo.

Instagram: @varo_conspiracy

All Photographs by Scooj

Varo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2022

Varo and Zake, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2022

Varo, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2021

Varo, Leonard Lane, Bristol, September 2020

Varo, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2020

Varo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2020

6959. Brunel Way (396)

I think it is safe to say that Subtle is back, as this is the second of three recent pieces, although I have yet to locate the third. Seeing his large letters, which are anything but subtle, is like greeting an old friend, resuming the conversation where it was last cut off.

It is a welcome thing indeed, after so many brown shades dominating so many pieces recently, to see the good old bedfellows pink and light blue featured here. Subtle’s large blue letters, with modest decorations, are augmented perfectly with pink circles and spots surrounding. Set on a black-buffed wall, this is a splendid announcement of ‘I’m back’.

6958. Wharf Street, Leeds

Mr Penfold, Wharf Street, Leeds, May 2025

There is something very comforting about wandering around a place that I don’t know very well, and stumbling across the familiar artist, in this case, not just familiar, but Bristol’s fabulous Mr Penfold.

Mr Penfold has had a great deal of success with his commissions, and being invited to decorate this large building in the heart of Leeds must have been a real feather in his cap. It is interesting that alongside his colourful designs there is a lot of ‘white space’ which acts as a perfect counterbalance to his shapes and patterns. The building could risk looking too busy if all of it was ‘pimped’ a la Monsieur Penfold.

I felt very much at home in my ancestral city, in the company of artwork from a Bristol artist, and the sun was shining. What’s not to like about such an occasion?

6957. Cumberland Basin

Lis, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2025

Lis (Le Imposter Design) continues on her street art journey, developing new ideas and techniques along the way. Imagination and creativity seem to come quite easily to her and every new piece is distinct and quite different from the last.

Described as a ‘silly one’ by Lis, this looks like an alien piece, with the words ‘They’re coming’ in rather nice neon-style writing at the top. The character shows some development, and although perhaps not the greatest piece of art in the world, it demonstrates her desire to push boundaries and try out new ideas and styles. I am so much enjoying her journey.

6956. Peel Street Green (42)

Mage, Peel Street Green, Bristol, May 2025

There are a few graffiti writers emerging in Bristol, some that may have been around a while, whose work is straightforward and down to earth, such as Short, Maes and in this instance Mage. While they haven’t yet reached the top division of writers, their presence is an important component of the graffiti scene in the city.

I only really became conscious of Mage’s work in the last six months or so, and this is the first piece I have listed on Natural Adventures. This is a nice tidy chrome piece with an attractive red drop shadow set on a white wall and blue backdrop. A lovely finishing touch of blue plasma rounds the piece off nicely.

6955. St Werburghs tunnel (502)

One of the earliest pieces I ever wrote about was a PWA collaboration in Wilder Street that I think Sikoh had been a part of, although his name might have been mentioned in dispatches. Sikoh might not be the most productive artist in Bristol, but he is certainly one of the most talented, able to create characters, scenes and superb anamorphic writing.

I would like to think that this extraordinary piece spells SIKOH, but I can’t quite make it out myself. The way that he has managed to create such enormous depth in these letters is remarkable, and the steel blue colours give the illusion of the piece being made out of hard metal or rock. The red highlight boxes elevate the piece to the next level. Bravo Sikoh!

	scooj on Foksymoron
	dennyho on Foksymoron
	scooj on 7414. Cumberland Basin
	scooj on 7412. BB Gallery (11)
	Cethru Cellophane on 7414. Cumberland Basin

	scooj on Foksymoron
	dennyho on Foksymoron
	scooj on 7414. Cumberland Basin
	scooj on 7412. BB Gallery (11)
	Cethru Cellophane on 7414. Cumberland Basin

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