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.

6635. River Avon (73)

Klashwhensober, River Avon, Bristol, December 2024
Klashwhensober, River Avon, Bristol, December 2024

This is a curious piece by Klashwhensober, painted alongside Sworm on a low wall that supports one of the bridges over the River Avon – a bridge that doesn’t actually lead to anywhere. It looks like this might have been a bit of a dregs piece, because there are a few colours involved, that don’t necessarily complement one another, and the light blue and yellow look rather thin, and perhaps were running out.

Klashwhensober, River Avon, Bristol, December 2024
Klashwhensober, River Avon, Bristol, December 2024

Klashwhensober has been painting a lot of character/writing combination pieces over the last year, and as a general rule of thumb, the more time he spends on a piece, the better the outcome. While all the design elements are present in this piece, it feels a little rushed and rough around the edges. The character on the left is a bit strange, and slightly divorced in style and colour from the writing. Overall, this is an interesting piece, but not one of Klashwhensober’s finest.

6634. St Werburghs tunnel (469)

Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2024
Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2024

I believe that this piece by Mr Klue was painted at breakneck speed. On the day it was painted, I checked out the wall around lunchtime, and there was nothing there. Paul H visited the spot a while later and the piece was completed. This is my account of events… of course I might have had a ‘moment’, or a blind spot and walked past the piece without noticing it, but I simply don’t think that happened. Anyhow, all’s well that ends well, and I managed to snap it up as if it were new, eventually.

Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2024
Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2024

2024 was a stand-out year for Mr Klue, and what a way to round-off the year with this fine abstract writing piece set on a festive gold background. The letters spell KLUE, and are more defined here than in some of his more ephemeral pieces. The orange and turquoise work well together and are augmented with splashes of lime green and purple. A fine piece. I am looking forward to another great year from Mr Klue in 2025

6633. M32 roundabout J3 (647)

Zake, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2024
Zake, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2024

This cartoon portrait piece by Zake embraces the spirit of Christmas in the subtlest way, with a tiny little Father Christmas hat jauntily perched on the character’s head. It was painted as the central part of a PWA Christmas celebration triptych, sandwiched between Face 1st and Soap.

Zake, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2024
Zake, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2024

As ever, Zake has achieved an incredible 3D effect in this piece using his well-practised skill of using light and shade, and in this example, using different colours to achieve these contrasts. As a result, the face pops out from the wall in an incredible way. I am really pleased that the PWA crew took the time to spread a little joy this Christmas.

6632. Coach and Horses.

Sled One, Coach and Horses, Bristol, December 2024
Sled One, Coach and Horses, Bristol, December 2024

I tend to be very slow off the mark photographing new pieces on this wall of the Coach and Horses pub, but feel that I can take my time to visit, when I happen to be passing because the wall has a very slow turnover and is rarely tagged. I managed to find myself over in the area, after visiting the recycling centre and took the opportunity to check out the fabulous pieces making up the collaboration. This first piece is by Sled One.

Sled One, Coach and Horses, Bristol, December 2024
Sled One, Coach and Horses, Bristol, December 2024

Sled One has always had a rather surreal take on his characters and scenes, but what makes them so special is his incredible talent with the spray can. One is simply left with the lingering question… how does he do that? The piece, called ‘Shit TV’, features a fly, sitting on a turd, watching TV with a pair of 3D secs on and eating popcorn and drinking a milkshake. It doesn’t get much weirder or obscure than this, but Sled One thinks of these things and brings them to life in a remarkable way. Brilliant work from a brilliant artist.

6631. Hornsey Road, North London

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

The road tunnel under the railway on Hornsey Road has become a gallery for the work of Northbanksy and his tribute portraits to a plethora of Arsenal players past and present, and here are a couple more of his stencil-style pieces.

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

Thounsands of Arsenal fans shuffle along the pavement on match days and stop to admire and enjoy these, if I am perfectly honest, quite crude pieces. The portrait of Ian Wright is a particular favourite, as he embodies the spirit of Arsenal, and his love for the club is so infectious. This piece is also the only one in the tunnel that includes any colour, so it stands out.

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

The portrait of Mohamed Elneny, until recently a loyal and long-serving Arsenal player, reminds us of the good natured and team player, who although not the best footballer in the world, did a magnificent job for the club over many years. I absolutely love this gallery by Northbanksy… more to come.

6630. Dean Lane skate park (793)

Haka, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2024
Haka, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2024

This looks like it might be my last street art post of 2024, a year in which I have published 897 street/graffiti posts and 22 artist galleries, not a bad haul really, and there have been some corkers in amongst that lot. I tend not to do annual reviews or ‘top tens’, but I am sorely tempted to do so this year. Time, of course, is my enemy (and my friend).

Haka, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2024
Haka, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2024

It somehow feels good to round off the year with a piece by Haka, a true Bristol combination graffiti writer/character illustrator, who has been presenting children’s picture book and cartoon characters for a long while. In this piece he has painted one of my favourite walls with his characteristic writing and included a faithfully recreated BFG – Big Friendly Giant by Roald Dahl, illustrated by Quentin Blake. Be safe seeing the old year out and New Year in.

6629. M32 roundabout J3 (646)

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

Although Face 1st has moved away from Bristol, he is still making trips to the city and leaving behind some lovely pieces, including this Christmas piece which he painted alongside Zake and Soap.

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

This is a sumptuous piece of graffiti writing, in the block style that Face 1st likes to paint from time to time. The ‘gold’ colour is created using two tones, which provide shading and depth. The writing is wrapped up in a festive red ribbon – the perfect Christmas present. Face 1st is, and always be welcome in Bristol.