Urban – Page 46 – Natural adventures

6995. Mina Road (15)

Stivs and Vane, Mina Road, Bristol, May 2025

This wall, I believe, is owned by the householder behind it who has been happy to give permission to Silent Hobo, in the past, and more recently Stivs and Vane to decorate the wall. This recent makeover is their second collaboration here, and they have created something truly beautiful.

The art nouveau style of this two-part collaboration is not only really unusual, but arresting, and perhaps something you might expect to see on the near continent rather than in Bristol. Vane’s photorealistic portrait is engulfed in flowers and surrounded with a stunning art nouveau design, not unlike the metro signs in Paris.

Stivs continuers the theme, with the highly designed background and floral decoration, and also includes a portrait, although one that is perhaps slightly less photorealistic. This collaboration is as outstanding as it is unexpected. A very special piece.

6994. Brunel Way (319)

This is simply a really classy piece from Corupt (who writes the letters ‘Corupt’ or ‘Stick’ mostly) on a wall/skate ramp, tucked away at the southern end of the Brunel Way spot.

The piece is good in every respect. The colour selections work beautifully, The quirky letters fill the space of the ramp perfectly, and the overall finishing is tight as a nut. Corupt has been turning out some outstanding pieces recently and i very highly regarded in his homeland of Hungary, so I am told.

6993. M32 roundabout J3 (691)

Hypo, Cheo and Hemper, M32 roundabout, Bristol, May 2025

Birthday paint jams have definitely become more of a thing since I started writing about street art (about ten years now). This was a well attended birthday celebration for Hypo, which turned out some superb pieces. This is a triptych from the birthday boy, Cheo and Hemper.

I’ve pretty much said all there is to say about Hypo’s work in so many posts over the last couple of years, and this is another fine example of his wildstyle writing, perhaps more cryptic than some of his pieces. What an accolade that so many great artists came out to celebrate with him.

Cheo is one of the ‘godfathers’ of character work in Bristol, and this is a superb cartoon-style piece featuring an artist (is it Hypo?) pondering whether he should be using red or yellow paint. The animation is so full of humour and movement, it almost feels like watching a film clip. Of course, a signature bee is in attendance.

Hemper, M32 roundabout, Bristol, May 2025

Hemper always, always turns out outstanding pieces. This one is as creative as ever, and spells out Hems in blue and white dappled letters set on a red splash. Everything in on point, and it is easy to see that this is the work of a graffiti writing genius. Three great pieces coming together in this birthday collaboration.

6992. St Werburghs tunnel (509)

I am enjoying the discovery of Zinso pieces, and this was the second of three that I have come across recently. There is something rather attractive about the letters and the way they are worked, along with two wonderful blue arrows book ending the writing.

The colourful cartoony letters are filled with nicely blended greens, browns and blues with the exception of the ‘i’ which is a bright contrasting orange. The letters are set on a ping background and finished off with a sprinkling of lovely drips. Although Zinso is new to Bristol, the artist is clearly experienced and accomplished.

6991. Brunel Way (318)

Kool Hand, Mr Crawls and Bean, Brunel Way, Bristol, May 2025

Well this is an unusual trio, but nonetheless a very welcome collaboration from Kool Hand, Mr Crawls and Bean. On closer inspection, I am guessing that it is actually two distinct pieces, a collaboration from Kool Hand and Mr Crawls and an independent piece by Bean, which is perhaps why it looks like an unusual coming together.

Kool Hand, Brunel Way, Bristol, May 2025

Kool Hand has been painting a lot this year, spreading his time between writing and characters. This piece is a profile of his famous orangutan character, which is synonymous with the artist. Constantly improving, Kool Hand has added more detail with shading and complexion.

Mr Crawls, Brunel Way, Bristol, May 2025

Mr Crawls just keeps on going with his gulls, and I just keep on going with photographing them when I see them. This is a nice one painted in his stylised cartoon format – nice and sharp. Difficult to read the expression on this one.

Finally, Bean, who has made a quiet comeback in recent weeks, has painted this exquisite piece with two characters in blue tones spraying the wall. The larger character looks like he is ‘high’ floating on the fumes from the paint can. They have been busy painting the letters BEAN. This is beautifully presented, and it is a great pity that some wally has plastered mud on the piece – what is wrong with some people? A refreshing wall, that didn’t last to long.

6990. River Avon (85)

Not every piece that appears on Natural Adventures is necessarily of the highest calibre, but that isn’t really the point. I like to include a representative spread of pieces from low end to high end, from spray paint to wheatpastes and from graffiti writing to portraits. I like to feature it all here, rather than creating something exclusive. The risk, of course, is that not everybody is going to like everything, although there will, I hope, be a broad enough spectrum of artwork here that most people will see something that they like eventually.

I have included this piece from Pl8o, mainly because it has been a very long while since I last saw something from him. This piece isn’t going to set the world on fire, but it has a certain attractiveness to it. The letters are nice and uniform, and painted on a particularly challenging wall surface. I hope it signals a return to more frequent pieces from a graffiti writer I like a lot.

6989. St Werburghs tunnel (508)

Wispa’s birthday paint jam in the tunnel is a gift that keeps on giving. The turnout for her birthday was excellent, and about half the wall space in the tunnel was re-decorated, which is a good thing as it needed a bit of freshening up.

This is a wonderful piece by the very talented Unity who is a well-established and important member of the of the all-female RBF (Resting Bitch Face) crew. Although she doesn’t paint nearly as much in Bristol as I would like, it is always a pleasure when she does. I don’t think the photographs do this piece justice, as it was taken in the gloomiest part of the tunnel. Her writing is sublime, with superb blended fills and intricate patterning. A deep, double drop shadow in cream colours rounds the writing off perfectly. Great graffiti writing.

6988. Sparke Evans Park (130)

Zake, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, June 2025

I don’t really need to dwell too much on haw Zake has been smashing it lately, his skill is matched by his creativity, and in this piece he has really gone to town. I also like the fact that Zake has returned us to the wonderful colour combination of pink and blue.

Zake has combined three faces into one, to create something that looks like a primitive deity or something like that. The expressions on the faces, running left to right are contentment via uncertainty to some kind of evil rage. An interesting piece with lots to enjoy about it.

6987. St Michael’s Hill (7)

Rowdy, St Michael's Hill, Bristol, June 2025 — Rowdy, St Michael’s Hill, Bristol, June 2025

When I think about Bristol street art, one of the first images that springs to mind is a Rowdy crocodile. Somehow what he does and how he does it embodies a sense of mischief and humour, edge and naive art, and is at the very heart of the Bristol scene.

I love this little spot at the bottom of St Michael’s hill, which has played host to a few different artworks over the years. I love also that is obviously used to be a butcher’s shop and still has the old tiles. Some crocodiles and a radiant cat decorate the walls and window perfectly and ooze everything that Rowdy is all about. I love this.

6986. Peel Street Green (44)

Serm, Peel Street Green, Bristol, June 2025

Serm is an artist who doesn’t paint all that often, but his distinctive pieces are always a welcome addition. This time, he has gone for something a little different and cryptic, hiding his letters in the design.

The green fills and yellow drop shadows work well together, although I’m not sure about the white background that makes the whole piece look a little washed-out, and doesn’t create enough contrast with the letters. The green fills is a subtle blend of at least three tones which come together perfectly. I hope the wait for the next one isn’t too long.

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

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

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