6622. Cumberland Basin

Mr Draws, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2024
Mr Draws, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2024

Mr Draws has been represented on Natural Adventures month after month and year after year, and his presence is a testament to his determination and drive, even through periods of challenge and uncertainty. His work holds a special place in this blog.

Mr Draws, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2024
Mr Draws, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2024

This bright piece in Cumberland Basin is a regular quick one from Mr Draws. The fills he has used are strong colours, but the paint is a little thin, which is often the case with oranges, reds and yellows. I rather like the subtle little green spots, highlighting the tops of the letters. I hope 2025 will be another strong and productive one from Mr Draws.

6621. River Avon (71)

Nips, River Avon, Bristol, December 2024
Nips, River Avon, Bristol, December 2024

I am happy to include a piece by Nips before we see the year out, as her work has been a highlight for me in 2024. Her letters have a strong identity, and an assuredness about them, being a vehicle for her brilliant and dynamic fills.

Nips, River Avon, Bristol, December 2024
Nips, River Avon, Bristol, December 2024

As ever, her colour selection for this piece of graffiti writing shows her highly developed skills in crafting something that works well and looks beautiful. I am very much looking forward to a repeat in 2025.

Arsenal v Ipswich Town


.

Second from bottom

potential banana skin

post Boxing Day match

.

by Scooj

6620. Sparke Evans Park (113)

Omie, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, December 2024
Omie, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, December 2024

For the second day in a row, it gives me great pleasure to post a piece by Omie. I first came across Omie in January this year, and his regular interventions through the year has established him as a key player in contemporary Bristol graffiti writing.

Omie, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, December 2024
Omie, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, December 2024

No two pieces by Omie are alike, and his creativity is running on full throttle, which is a refreshing approach to graffiti writing. Sometimes it can even be difficult to assign a particular style to Omie, and if he didn’t paint the same letters, his work could be quite difficult to identify. In this pinky/purple piece it looks like the letters OMIE are being created in some kind of machine, with tons of plasma bolts running through the letters. Something a little Dr Frankenstein about it all. A lovely piece to share on Boxing Day.

6619. Cumberland Basin

Sam Brentall, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2024
Sam Brentnall, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2024

The Christmas break continues to be ultra-busy so I am rushing today’s posts a little. Normal service will resume in a few days. This piece, by Sam Brentnall is a wonderfully uncomplicated cartoon character dog holding a chicken, and whoever not?

Sam Brentall, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2024
Sam Brentnall, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2024

I have only posted one of Sam Brentnall’s pieces before, which was up at Purdown, so coming across this one in the Cumberland Basin was a very pleasant surprise. His work really justifies the phrase ‘less is more’ and what I mean by that is the simplicity of the scene tells a story without overindulgent elaboration. I would definitely like to see more of Sam Brentnall’s work on the streets… perhaps in 2025.

6618. Cattle Market Road (19)

Mote and Mr Crawls, Cattle Market Road, Bristol, December 2024
Mote and Mr Crawls, Cattle Market Road, Bristol, December 2024

I guess it only feels right that a special Christmas Day post should fall to Mote and Mr Crawls, who have been Bristol’s most productive partnership this year. Although they have been quite quiet over the past month or two, I am expecting a resumption of their characters brightening up our streets in the New Year. I think I was a little late to the party with this piece, but I don’t visit this area of Bristol too often.

Mote and Mr Crawls, Cattle Market Road, Bristol, December 2024
Mote and Mr Crawls, Cattle Market Road, Bristol, December 2024

The multi-eyed monster to the right is by Mote, whose presence and development has been a pleasure to witness in recent years, and all the time he is tweaking and adding ideas and techniques. Mr Crawls, too, has been developing his style and characters, and the two appear to bounce ideas off one another. Mr Crawls has had two bites of the cherry here, painting one piece on the hoarding and the other on the utility box. By having two pieces together you can see his identity and style running through, even though the characters are quite different, save the hats. More next year I hope.

6617. Dean Lane skate park (791)

Omie, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2024
Omie, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2024

Happy Christmas. Lots to do today, so another short entry. I was fortunate enough to meet Omie for the first time a couple of days ago, and as with nearly all the artists I meet, he is a nice person, who made time for a chat. I was pleased that he knew about Natural Adventures and appeared to appreciate my write ups of his work. It was a genuine pleasure to meet him, because I really like his original take on each and every piece he paints.

Omie, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2024
Omie, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2024

This is a wonderful piece of writing from Omie, in celebration of Pekoe’s birthday – what a fine tribute. The colours are compelling and the blended fills work nicely particularly with the addition of spots, although the orange paint is a little thin… thin paints can be a pain in the butt. Some black highlights add interest to the letters which are beautifully presented. The Darraigh referred to in the bottom right hand corner is the recent storm that swept across England in Early December.

6616. River Avon (70)

Sworm, River Avon, Bristol, December 2024
Sworm, River Avon, Bristol, December 2024

To use Sworm’s own words, this was a bit of an odd one. I know this, because I happened to meet him while he was painting in St Werburghs tunnel yesterday alongside Omie. This piece was painted with Klashwhensober on the pathway between Sparke Evans Park and Temple Meads Station… a nice walk if you have the time to do it.

Sworm, River Avon, Bristol, December 2024
Sworm, River Avon, Bristol, December 2024

On first inspection this piece looks like a quick throw up, but the swirly pattern in the letters is a deliberate fill rather than what could look like thin paint over a patterned background. The pink border and drop shadow is an essential ingredient in helping the letters to stand out on the black background. Although not his best piece, this is a rather nice work from Sworm.

6615. M32 roundabout J3 (644)

Stivs, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2024
Stivs, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2024

Stivs has had a fabulous year with both his calligraffiti and his character pieces, and this recent beauty is on the west side of the M32 roundabout. This piece is a rather faithful rendition of a teenage mutant ninja turtle, although I couldn’t tell you which one.

Stivs, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2024
Stivs, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2024

It doesn’t really matter what Stivs does, characters or writing, because they always turn out well and are prefectly executed. Short one today… too many things to do before the big day tomorrow.

6614. Cumberland Basin

Lee Roy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2024
Lee Roy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2024

Not long ago, I met Lee Roy, whilst walking our respective dogs, and he informed me that he was hanging up his spray cans for a while, which was disappointing to hear, because I like his work and the way he expresses himself through it. However, this piece might signify a return for the anti-style(ish) writer.

Lee Roy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2024
Lee Roy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2024

During his ‘lay-off’, he hasn’t lost his touch in the slightest, indeed, this is a rather sharp piece, beautifully presented and with an array of his favourite fill patterns and shapes. The purples and greys work well against the blight blue background, and this is a very fine ‘come back’ piece. Hoping this is more than a splash in the pan.