6201. M32 roundabout J3 (600)

Hypo and Ulow, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2024
Hypo and Ulow, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2024

What a wonderful surprise it was to come across this outstanding collaboration from Hypo and Ulow. Regular readers will be familiar with Hypo, especially as he has been so productive over the last year or so, but Ulow’s appearances are rare these days, so this was a real treat.

Hypo and Ulow, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2024
Hypo and Ulow, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2024

This collaboration is out of the top drawer. Hypo’s super-colourful writing is as good as I have seen from him and has a touch of Hemper in its presentation and depth… praise indeed. Ulow has an incredible talent for painting the perfect graffiti characters, and his dancer on the right hand side of the collaboration matches the energy of Hypo’s writing. This is a supremely good piece, and one of my favourite collaborations so far this year. Bravo!

6200. Dean Lane skate park (732)

Fade and Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2024
Fade and Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2024

This is the second piece (the first was by Deamze) I have seen in Bristol featuring Asterix and Obelix from the children’s comic book series written by Goscinny and illustrated by Uderzo, both, regrettably no longer with us, but their legacy lives on through apprentices who have carried on the series of books. I am something of an expert on Asterix, I was brought up on the books, and in my youth they were the only thing I would read (much to my family’s dismay), so I judge this remarkable piece by Fade and Dibz through critical lens.

Fade, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2024
Fade, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2024

Starting with Fade, the strong and on-point letters in black with orange drop shadows, are nothing more than I would expect. For me, though the writing is eclipsed with the appearance of Dogmatix, Obelix’s dog, at the bottom left.

Fade and Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2024
Fade and Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2024

Dogmatix, obviously had a non-speaking part in the books, other than the odd growl or woof, and Fade’s rendition of the little character is perfect, picking up on his personality faithfully.

Fade and Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2024
Fade and Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2024

The centrepiece, probably painted by both Fade and Dibz features the heroes of the piece, Asterix and Obelix. The large sidekick, Obelix is 100% spot on, everything about his is brilliant. Getting on to Asterix though, my hypercritical eye isn’t quite happy with the warrior’s face, which feels slightly elongated… there is something not right about the proportions. I’ll let it go though, because they have tapped in to something that is deeply rooted in my childhood.

Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2024
Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2024

Dibz rounds off the production piece by mirroring Fade’s style and colours to provide balance to the whole collaboration. Remarkable stuff really and a red-letter day for me on finding it. Below is the Deamze piece from 2018 before he emigrated to Tasmania.

Deamze, Waterloo Street, Bristol, October 2018
Deamze, Waterloo Street, Bristol, October 2018

6199. Cumberland Basin

Dirtygypo, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, July 2024
Dirtygypo, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, July 2024

There are basically three kinds of ‘new’ artist in Bristol (or any other city I might suppose); those who are hitting walls for the first time having practiced or expanding beyond their art studios; those who are already established artists who move to Bristol or nearby and start painting; and those established artists who are simply visiting or passing through the city and drop a piece or two, because they can.

Dirtygypo, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, July 2024
Dirtygypo, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, July 2024

It turns out that Dirtygypo has been writing in Bristol for at least a couple of years but has only just appeared on my radar. I guess I will have to rifle through my archives to see if I have earlier photographs of his work. Perhaps he has been hitting some of the more popular spots, or his pieces are lasting longer, whatever the reason, he has become more established recently. His work is exciting, colourful and busy, with irregular letters each filled and decorated differently. I am not sure what the letters spell, but I really rather like the frenetic appearance. Watch this space for more from Dirtygypo.

Late arrival

.

Absent butterflies

with warmth emerge from hiding

at last the sun shines

.

by Scooj

6198. Greenbank (125)

Zeks, Greenbank, Bristol, July 2024
Zeks, Greenbank, Bristol, July 2024

There is no doubt about it, I am really enjoying the fresh look of Zeks’ pieces combined with the fact that he is painting in Bristol a little more often these days, and long may that last. This is a straightforward piece of graffiti writing, with clearly defined letters and simple design – incorporating a little symmetry with the ‘Z’ and ‘S’.

Zeks, Greenbank, Bristol, July 2024
Zeks, Greenbank, Bristol, July 2024

I can’t put my finger on it, but there is something quite unique about Zeks’ writing. There is a modesty and uncomplicatedness, an authenticity, which really attracts me. Simple solid fills are accompanied by a striped pattern filling the letter gaps. A couple of arrows and some rings accessorise the letters a little, but none of it would work very well without the cream background. This is a great composition.

6197. Dean Lane skate park (731)

Sled One, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2024
Sled One, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2024

I expect that this piece, like most of his writing, was freestyled by Sled One. What I mean by that is that he most likely painted it straight off the top of his head, without a sketch in a black book, or anything like that. To be able to do that suggests not only confidence but also incredible talent.

Sled One, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2024
Sled One, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2024

Sled One has written SLED, with each letter being defined by a different colour/pattern regime, helping to pick them out. There are so many details and points of interest, but two that stand out are the barbed wire at the base of the ‘L’ and the downward facing arrow between the ‘E’ and ‘D’. All of these details combine to create a superb piece of wildstyle graffiti writing.

6196. Leicester

I have visited Leicester a couple of times recently, once in May and again earlier this week. On both occasions I have managed to snap a few outstanding pieces, largely, but not exclusively, from the ‘Bring the Paint’ festival. As many of you will know, I struggle just to keep up with new pieces in Bristol, let alone street art that I see on my travels, so I am grouping a few pieces together. These were photographed in May 2024.

Juandres Vera, Leicester, May 2024
Juandres Vera, Leicester, May 2024

This is an extraordinary anamorphic piece by Juandres Vera – really eye-catching, although a little awkward to photograph – it was behind a gate.

Does, Leicester, May 2024
Does, Leicester, May 2024

This is an enormous mural by Does, and I am guessing that the writing spells out DOES.

Gent 48, Leicester, May 2024
Gent 48, Leicester, May 2024

I have heard and seen quite a lot about Gent 48, but I think that this might be the first piece I have actually seen by the artist. Utterly outstanding.

Nuno Viegas, Leicester, May 2024
Nuno Viegas, Leicester, May 2024

Nuno Viegas has visited Bristol before for Upfest, so it was great to see this unbelievable piece combining two-dimensional bubble writing with an amazing 3D hand and spray can. Great reflections on the chrome can and shadows cast by it.

More collections from Leicester to come in due course.

A memory

.

By the French windows

drenched in golden summer sun

I snooze with a book

.

by Scooj

  • On recalling one of my favourite rooms in my grandparent’s house.

6195. Upfest 2024 (40)

Tozer signs, Upfest 2024, North Street, Bristol, May 2024
Tozer signs, Upfest 2024, North Street, Bristol, May 2024

Anyone who spends time on Bedminster’s North Street will have consciously or unconsciously seen signs in the area by Bristol-based sign writer, Tozer signs.this is a beautifully designed and executed street sign welcoming visitors to North Street.

Tozer signs, Upfest 2024, North Street, Bristol, May 2024
Tozer signs, Upfest 2024, North Street, Bristol, May 2024

There is a huge amount of skill and experience that has gone into producing this large sign that more than equals even the best graffiti writing in the city… the only real difference is the discipline and accuracy that a sign writer must work to in order to have any credibility at all. Tozer signs delivers in bucket-loads with this piece. The block letters spelling out NORTH STREET, have great uniformity and depth, and show off the talent of a brilliant craftswoman. Regrettably this piece was dogger not long after the Upfest festival ended. There are way too many idiots in our midst, but I guess anyone who created art on the streets knows the risks and likely limitations on longevity. Beautiful work from Tozer signs.

6194. Upfest 2024 (39)

Wrdsmth, Upfest 2024, North Street, Bristol, May 2024
Wrdsmth, Upfest 2024, North Street, Bristol, May 2024

I am aware of Wrdsmth’s work, mainly from my trips to some of London’s great graffiti/street art spots like Shoreditch and Camden Town, but I don’t think I have seen anything by the artist on this scale before. It is a privilege for the artist to secure this wall that has had some significant masterpieces on it before, in particular a stunner from Liam Bononi back in 2021.

Wrdsmth, Upfest 2024, North Street, Bristol, May 2024
Wrdsmth, Upfest 2024, North Street, Bristol, May 2024

From the little I know about Wrdsmth, he usually follows the same format with a typewriter and some wise words issuing forth from it. Here, the words say “Aspire to inspire others and the universe will take note”. I am not so sure about this confident assertion, but admire its trust in human nature. It was great to have Wrdsmth visit Bristol for Upfest, and it would be great to have the artist return sometime.