5275. Cumberland Basin

Werm, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2023
Werm, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2023

It is getting close to the time when I say something like, ‘I really ought to pull together a gallery for Werm’, and judging from his productivity over the last three years or so, and the frequency with which he has appeared on Natural Adventures recently, it definitely is that time.

Werm, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2023
Werm, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2023

Werm underwent something of a change of approach, from painting cute characters to concentrating on his writing. At about that time, he also discarded the moniker Eman and was reborn as Werm. His progress has been rapid and his technical skills and creativity have blossomed to the point where he is creating complex and busy pieces like this one. His most recent ‘formula’ is to write WERM in smaller letters at the centre of the piece, and to extend the branches of his letters with elaborate designs exploding out from the middle. It would be nice to see him deconstruct this a little and see what he can do with a simpler design. I am thoroughly enjoying recording his journey.

5269. M32 Spot (165)

Werm, Pekoe and Fade, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2023
Werm, Pekoe and Fade, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2023

This recent collaborative wall is one I didn’t see coming, and I think that it demonstrates the camaraderie that exists in the street/graffiti art world, which is often perceived as being aggressive, territorial and threatening, which it can be, but mostly isn’t. The three artists are Werm, Pekoe and Fade, an artist who is new to Natural Adventures, but whose work I expect to be posting a fair amount from now on.

Werm, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2023
Werm, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2023

To the left, the very productive Werm treats us to gold and electric blue graffiti writing, painted in his ever-evolving style. Recently Werm has been writing quite small letters in the centre of the piece and extending the letters outwards with intricate designs. His work is tending towards an overall symmetry, not unlike Elvs’ and Hypo’s work at the moment. A classy piece of writing.

Pekoe, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2023
Pekoe, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2023

The rose between two thorns (sorry guys) is by Pekoe, whose portrait pieces are part of the binding DNA of contemporary Bristol street art. The girl in the picture appears to be a little haunted and unhappy, often a feature of Pekoe’s work. The big hair is dutifully decorated with yellow blocks of marks and the cheeks decorated with an anarchy symbol and heart. I am tying to work out if the pink in the eyes was added by Pekoe or a tagger – it looks a little out of place to me.

Fade, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2023
Fade, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2023

To the right is a tidy piece by Fade, who tells me he has spent the last 15 years in New York photographing skaters and street scenes – his work is amazing – but has returned to Bristol and picked up a spray can again, to great effect. I expect to see a lot more from Fade as he gets his eye back in and decorates the streets of our city.

An unusual grouping of artists, but nonetheless a fine collaborative wall.

5263. Dean Lane skate park (601)

Werm, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2023
Werm, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2023

It has to be said that Werm has managed, in a relatively short space of time, to create and amplify his unique style on the Bristol scene. His work is constantly improving and developing, and he is starting to work on collaborative walls with some of the more established artists in the city.

Werm, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2023
Werm, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2023

Werm is favouring a style at the moment which has extensive elaborations on the letters WERM that form the central portion of the piece, almost as though the letters are growing roots and shoots. He is also managing to fill his letters with nicely painted colour transitions, five in this instance. Werm was painting alongside the very experienced Turoe on this wall, and has picked up on a shared background of sky blue and some of the bricks of the wall picked out in a darker blue. A graffiti writer on the up.

5234. River Avon (44)

Werm, River Avon, Brtistol, May 2023
Werm, River Avon, Brtistol, May 2023

A lush scene, photographed at the beginning of this rather glorious spell of weather we are having. This is not, however, the first time I have photographed this piece, but I never got round to posting it, so I thought I’d have another go. It is, of course, by the tireless Werm.

Werm, River Avon, Brtistol, May 2023
Werm, River Avon, Brtistol, May 2023

I rather like the way that the encroachment of greenery complements the greens in the piece, and that the purples and oranges almost resemble flower petals. Spelling out WERM, the letters are beautifully crafted and filled, and demonstrate just how quickly this artist has developed and keeps improving.

5189. Dean Lane skate park (594)

Werm, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2023
Werm, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2023

At a guess I would say that I only post about a quarter of all the Werm pieces that I find, and tht is probably only a half of what he paints, so I will have to find a way to remedy that. I think I might have to do a trawl through my folders and publish a mini gallery to get back up to speed.

Werm, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2023
Werm, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2023

In the short three or four years when I first met Werm, who was writing EMAN at the time, he is in my view, one of the most improved artists and graffiti writers in Bristol. The technical skills he displays with his work is of the highest order, and it just shows what talent combined with dedication can do. There is more to this piece of graffiti writing than just the stunning colour combination.

5086. River Avon (40)

Werm. River Avon, Bristol, March 2023
Werm. River Avon, Bristol, March 2023

This magnificent piece by Werm was painted some time ago, but the light conditions were never right each time I photographed it, with dappled sun and shade being the main culprit. Recently, on an overcast day, I managed to catch it in its full glory. The wide-angle setting on my iPhone has also made capturing pieces in narrow spaces a whole lot easier.

Werm. River Avon, Bristol, March 2023
Werm. River Avon, Bristol, March 2023

Werm has come so far in a relatively short space of time, and this is a really high-quality graffiti writing and character combination. The intricate letters, spelling WERM are perfectly balanced with a superb Top Cat character, an absolute favourite when I was growing up. I am glad I persisted with this fine piece from Werm.

5054. Cumberland Basin

Werm, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, February 2023
Werm, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, February 2023

I haven’t seen a character piece from Werm for quite a while, so it was really great to find this one in the little tunnel at Cumberland Basin. Werm has definitely been concentrating on his writing, which has been going from strength to strength, but I have to say that I miss his characters, because they brought something a little different to our streets.

Werm, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, February 2023
Werm, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, February 2023

In this piece, Werm hasn’t entirely dispensed with his letters. The skull makes up the letter ‘R’ in the three-letter acronym LRS – an international crew that Werm belongs to, called Last Radical Souls. The shading work on the skull and letters is beautifully executed, and the white border is nice and sharp. This is another great piece by Werm.

4961. St Werburghs tunnel (338)

Werm, St Werburghs, Bristol, January 2023
Werm, St Werburghs, Bristol, January 2023

An artist who never gets enough ‘airspace’ on Natural Adventures is Werm. He is really prolific and has been turning out his own brand of stylish graffiti writing on a fantastically regular basis.

Werm, St Werburghs, Bristol, January 2023
Werm, St Werburghs, Bristol, January 2023

This excellent gold on red piece was painted in the tunnel alongside his LRS crew mates, during the very wet spell at the start of January. The colour fade in the letters is blended perfectly and also contains a few stars and spots for good measure. The writing spells out WERM, but has a kind of symmetry about it that is rather pleasing. This is a first class piece of writing from Werm.

4907. River Avon (37)

Werm, River Avon, Bristol, December 2022
Werm, River Avon, Bristol, December 2022

The paint on this piece was only a day old when I sauntered past it the day before yesterday, and I can’t tell you how pleased I was to find it, as I haven’t seen very many Christmas pieces this year, certainly not compared to normal, although there was a late burst from the Resting Bitch Face crew in St Werburghs Tunnel this week.

Werm, River Avon, Bristol, December 2022
Werm, River Avon, Bristol, December 2022

Werm seems to love the walls alongside the River Avon, and there are several of his pieces down there to enjoy. His letters are really beautifully constructed and painted in festive colours, and it is amazing to think how much progress he has made over the last couple of years. The addition of Father Christmas is an extra bonus, and perfect for a Christmas post. Season’s greetings all, Ho! Ho! Ho!

Werm, River Avon, Bristol, December 2022
Werm, River Avon, Bristol, December 2022

4761. Dean Lane skate park (533)

Werm, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2022
Werm, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2022

It is incredible to think how far and fast Werm has come from when I first met him back in 2020, when he was writing under the name Eman. He has definitely switched from character pieces to focussing on his writing, so it was great to see this piece where he has combined both.

Werm, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2022
Werm, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2022

The character is, I think, an alien from the Simpsons – I know I have seen it before… I have just Googled it, and I am correct, and it is called Kang or Kodos. The letters, spelling out Werm, are intricate and beautifully filled with superb horizontal fill transitions. This is Werm raising his game once again. Great stuff.