6645. Coach and Horses

Misc, Coach and Horses, Bristol, December 2024
Misc, Coach and Horses, Bristol, December 2024

Today I am off to a valley in the Atlas Mountains, and wrote this last night after a very long day doing a lot of walking. So today’s posts will be quick ones like yesterday and might not be very coherent. This is the third piece in a superb collaboration between Sled One, Smak and Misc, whose stunning heron clutching an eel in its bill is wonderful.

Misc, Coach and Horses, Bristol, December 2024
Misc, Coach and Horses, Bristol, December 2024

I don’t know Misc, but believe he painted a couple of pieces on this particular trip to Bristol. The stylised natural history piece is amazing and really captures the struggle between the fish and the bird. I would like to see much more work like this, as it is right up my street.

6644. M32 roundabout J3 (648)

Face 1st, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2024
Face 1st, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2024

Not much time to talk about this fun piece from Face 1st in one of the short tunnels under the M32 roundabout. So here it is.

Face 1st, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2024
Face 1st, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2024

6643. River Avon (74)

Solar, River Avon, Bristol, December 2024
Solar, River Avon, Bristol, December 2024

While this is far from my favourite piece by Solar, and not the easiest to photograph, even on a wide-angle setting, I have included it in the name of completeness and documentation. I think it is only honest to post work by artists, warts and all, if and when possible. All too often such pieces get deselected, but during the Christmas and winter period there is lower turnover and I can post more of what I see.

Solar, River Avon, Bristol, December 2024
Solar, River Avon, Bristol, December 2024

In this piece the letters SOLAR are stretched out, and difficult to notice when walking along the narrow pathway. Painted in subtle shades of grey with tints of duck-egg blue, the unruly letters touching on anti-style, are actually quite nicely done. I sense that this writing has been here a long while, but that I haven’t noticed it before.

6642. Sussex Street

Sepr and Andy Council, Sussex Street, Bristol, December 2024
Sepr and Andy Council, Sussex Street, Bristol, December 2024

This is a wonderful political commentary collaboration from Sepr and Andy Council, who are unhappy with the Government’s attitude towards the situation in Gaza. On the left Sepr has painted a passive protest piece featuring a dove sitting on an olive branch. It is both witty and poignant and is beautifully painted.

Sepr, Sussex Street, Bristol, December 2024
Sepr, Sussex Street, Bristol, December 2024

To the right, Andy Council presents on of his ‘stitched together’ composition creature pieces, which this time is a snail, perhaps representing the slow speed of any progress on ending the Israeli occupation and systematic demolition of Gaza. The snail is painted in the colours of the Palestinian flag. Brilliant stuff from the duo.

Andy Council, Sussex Street, Bristol, December 2024
Andy Council, Sussex Street, Bristol, December 2024

6641. Hornsey Road, North London

Northbanksy, Hornsey Road, North London, December 2024
Northbanksy, Hornsey Road, North London, December 2024

Good morning folks, a really quick couple of posts today, there is lots of sightseeing to be done. Two more Arsenal characters from Northbanksy in the railway tunnel for you, starting with a fan’s favourite, Gabriel Martinelli, one of three Gabriels in the current Arsenal squad. We could do with a few more goals from him, but he loves the club, and that can be enough.

Northbanksy, Hornsey Road, North London, December 2024
Northbanksy, Hornsey Road, North London, December 2024

The second piece portrays an unlikely hero at Arsenal, but one who is proving to be invaluable. It is Nicolas Jover, the set-piece coach, whose tactical genius is the envy of teams all over the world. There is a little plaque, which I failed to photograph, in the style of a street sign just above this piece which reads Jover’s Corner, which is a fun play on words. Northbanksy doing the faithful proud.

6640. Dean Lane skate park (796)

Peggy, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2024
Peggy, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2024

Tucked away behind the railings and hedge that borders the swimming pool is this charming small floral piece by Peggy. At first I thought it might have been an old piece, because I know she has painted here before, but I am pretty certain that it is new, which is great news, because she hasn’t painted much this year, and I do like her work.

Peggy, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2024
Peggy, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2024

This piece is so typical of her floral work, and it is great to see how she transitions her tattoo designs onto walls. There is symbolism in the piece, the flower has an eye. I am not too sure what it all means, but it is distinctive and curious. I hope Peggy hits the street more often in 2025.

6639. Coach and Horses

Smak, Coach and Horses, Bristol, December 2024
Smak, Coach and Horses, Bristol, December 2024

This is a stunning piece of graffiti writing by Smak, incorporating a landscape view, framed in a wide rectangle. It is similar to a piece that he painted on the M32 roundabout a little while ago. I have a feeling that this piece was from around the same time, but I have only recently got round to photographing and posting it.

Smak, Coach and Horses, Bristol, December 2024
Smak, Coach and Horses, Bristol, December 2024

The letters ‘SMAK’ are concealed, and I have to say I am assuming they are there rather than knowing that they are there. Within the overall design, there are fragments of a tropical paradise and plenty of palm tree references throughout. This is a truly classy piece from a very classy artist.

6638. Dean Lane skate park (795)

Mr Draws, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2024
Mr Draws, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2024

I have written this post in advance, because I am taking a break with my family to Marrakesh (apart from my son who jetted off to Thailand yesterday for a couple of months), and I will be busy today with getting ready for the flight, packing etc.

Mr Draws has been smashing it this winter, and when a lot of  ‘fair weather’ artists retreat to the comfort of their homes, Mr Draws has been stepping up to the plate and turning out some lovely, happy pieces.

Mr Draws, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2024
Mr Draws, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2024

This is a large piece, covering up the whole wall, which can easily accommodate two or three pieces, and often does. Mr Draws has filled the space really well, with his bright letter fills set on a skyscape background and some stylised blades of grass running along the base of the writing. Mr Draws has quite a unique style, and I don’t think that the way he paints his pieces is all that conventional either. I really like this one.

6637. Sussex Street

Haka, Sussex Street, Bristol, December 2024
Haka, Sussex Street, Bristol, December 2024

I rather like my occasional trips to the recycling centre. My most recent, last week, consisting mostly of cardboard boxes, afforded me the opportunity to visit a few spots that I don’t get to see all that often, and I was chuffed to find a clutch of pieces in Sussex Street that I hadn’t been aware of, including this piece by Haka, which looks like it was painted in October 2024.

Haka, Sussex Street, Bristol, December 2024
Haka, Sussex Street, Bristol, December 2024

This is a classic Haka combination piece, with his letters split either side of a character. You’ll have to forgive me for not knowing who the character is, but now that my kids are grown up I have lost touch a little with youth culture. The whole piece hangs together really well, and the writing has a lovely 3d drop shadow drifting to the right. A lively piece that probably looks a lot livelier on a sunny day.

6636. Dean Lane skate park (794)

Risky, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2024
Risky, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2024

It feels funny posting this piece by Risky, because it is only the third to have made it onto the pages of Natural Adventures, but I have been photographing his work for at least two years, so I am surprised I haven’t published more. I know little about the artist, and can’t find any socials at all, so until I catch Risky in the act I’ll have to remain ignorant – having said this, I have a nagging feeling that I may have met him a while back, painting under Brunel Way… the old grey matter isn’t what it used to be.

Risky, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2024
Risky, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2024

I love it that Risky, like so many other occasional writers in Bristol, turns up from time to time with a vibrant and colourful piece like this one, that really catch the eye. While this isn’t technically high-end, it has loads of things that I like; some great letter shapes and that strong red colour works really hard; some interesting white highlights that help the letters to pop, and some more subtle red highlights, adding a bit of depth to the letters; finally, a green drop shadow and yellow border. Although not the tidiest piece I have seen, I really like it.