I was fortunate enough to watch on for a little while as Dun Sum was painting this imaginary beetle-like insect, in the tunnel, and I am not sure that I would have twigged that it was Dun Sum had Hypo not been there to inform me.
Dun Sum, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2024
Dun Sum’s fantasy creatures are the hallmark of his outstanding artwork, most of which is displayed in L Dub, but occasionally we get to enjoy his work in central Bristol. This clever piece might well go unnoticed by many, as it is an augmentation of a Stivs piece that has been here in the tunnel for several months. It is so good to see this kind of creative work from Dun Sum.
Technically speaking, this wall, the remains of a derelict utility building, is not beneath Brunel Way, but it is as near as damn it, and it can be observed from the road looking upstream towards the south bank of the river. I am rather fond of this little spot, and there have been some wonderful small pieces painted here over the years.
Scrapyardspec, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2024
Scrapyardspec seems to be visiting Bristol rather a lot these days, and I am beginning to wonder is he is a little bit more local than I had originally thought, perhaps living somewhere between Bristol and the South East. The wall lends itself very well to Scrapyardspec’s quirky characters, and this one is another in a series painted in Bristol recently. The wobbly portrait with psychedelic eyes and green tongue is quite distinct and unique, and becoming something of a regular presence in the city.
Whales have been quite a common theme in Mr Draws’ artwork, both in the studio and on walls big and small. I guess that these large mammals are representative of the threats and opportunities for our planet, and something I know Mr Draws cares a lot about. This piece combines his writing with nature, a concept I wholly endorse.
Mr Draws, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2024
The letters DRAWS provide a backdrop for the blue whale character and some greenery. It was painted as part of a Halloween paint jam and there is plenty of symbolism in the piece, where the underlying message is that if you meddle with nature we are walking down the path of doom. Cheery huh? Great stuff from the thoughtful Mr Draws.
I tend to get quite excited when new artists begin to make a mark with their work, especially when you can see a style develop and confidence grow with each new piece. Astrea, who when I first encountered her operated under the moniker of HNH, is one such artist, and I am enjoying the challenge of finding her work in a variety of Bristol spots.
Astrea, Greenbank, Bristol, October 2024
Astrea’s abstract style is different and refreshing. It looks like she has used paint brushes in this piece to be able to get such sharp lines. The overall effect is aesthetically pleasing with curved lines framing the whole thing nicely. The two-tone colour selection is very effective, although I think that the circle at the top should have been filed with the brilliant white used for the rest of the fills. Excellent and original work from Astrea.
I happened to glance up at the right time when I was driving past this piece by Jody. First the pink caught my eye, and then the distinctive signature led me to stop the car (pulling over safely). The board is in a really unusual spot, attached to the wall on the side of Triodos Bank, and very close to the building where I work, and not a place you’d expect to find street art.
Jody, St George’s Road, Bristol, October 2024
The piece is a commission for the organisation called One Question, and this is the information I could find on the Interweb:
One Question is a global advisory organisation that seeks to understand how societal forces impact businesses. In Bristol, One Question launched a pilot project in September 2024 to explore the question, “Who is responsible for our mental health?”. The project involved a conversation with businesses, policymakers, the local community, and institutions. The conversation was intended to share challenges, find common ground, and explore new ideas.
Regular readers will know that I am not all that keen on advertising street art, but with this piece I am trying to see beyond the corporate identity and promotion and focus on Jody’s wonderful artwork which presents some wonderful themes and scenes from Bristol. An unusual piece in an unusual place, which demonstrates how commissions contribute to the overall street art scene.
It is easy to become complacent, living in Bristol, when it comes to street and graffiti, and to take it for granted that we have something rather special, that most cities in the country or the world, simply don’t have. The graffiti sub-culture is thriving and grows both local talent and attracts artists form far and wide to get out there and paint walls. Artists like Smak, who are at the top of their game, are not a rarity, but common, such is the strength and depth of the field of artists.
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024
This is a beautiful combination piece of outstanding writing accompanied by a comedy cartoon skull wearing a graffiti crown. The letters, which are easy to pick out, are beautifully proportioned and designed, and painted in prime colours, which you don’t see all that often. A wonderful piece from a gifted artist.
Kid Krishna, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2024
Like many artists, Kid Krishna goes through phases of low and high activity, and recently we have been enjoying one of his productive periods, with a plethora of his pieces in various styles in all parts of the city. This colourful piece is painted on the long wall at Cumberland Basin.
Kid Krishna, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2024
The letters, as always, spell CRIE, not that you’d necessarily work that out without help. The turquoise letters stand out well against the black, pink and yellow colours of thee background. There is something quite strongly anti-style about this one and a little bit of attitude too. The slightly untidy finishing would indicate that it was probably a quick one, painted in the moment, because when you are as good as Kid Krishna, you simply can.
I recently met Nice One for the first time, although he said that we had met before (I think that must have been before he was painting as Nice One), which I felt a bit bad about, because I like to try and remember these things. We had a great chat about all sorts of things, and I was able to tell him how much I was enjoying his work, and the superb way he combines his writing with characters and scenes – this piece being a perfect example of what I mean.
Nice One, Greenbank, Bristol, October 2024
This piece wouldn’t look out of place in a gallery, but here it is for the citizens of Bristol to enjoy. The concept is beautifully executed, a landscape with moody clouds above a tree-lined lake, and the letters, in Times New Roman font emerging like monoliths from the horizon. This is a fascinating piece that demonstrates Nice One’s modest talent. One of the most memorable pieces of the year in my view.
Sled One has made a few appearances on Natural Adventures recently, but this Halloween piece, painted on 30 October, trumps the lot of them. It isn’t often that this whole wall is painted – lots of ladder-work, so when it is you can expect something pretty special.
Sled One, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2024
The piece is painted on a jaunty angle, which is unsettling in itself. The backdrop is a gloomy street scene, with cars dimply lit under some street lights. The star of the piece is the scary pumpkin character, the unconventional shape of which adds to the sense of unease and edge. Shaped like a skull, the melting pumpkin face is dropping seeds like teeth falling out, and resembles the lanterns left out to rot after the Halloween festival itself. A wicked piece that doesn’t give in to the sentimental portrayal of a pumpkin, but turns it into an evil protagonist.
Natural adventures 