6332. Cumberland Basin

Ryder and Inkie, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2024
Ryder and Inkie, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2024

I am rather tired this morning. I got back late last night from Copenhagen, after a wonderful long weekend there with my 89 year old mother. We packed a lot in to the three full days, and I am still processing much of the trip. I have managed to keep my posts going on Natural Adventures through this period, but might need to slow down a little as I ease myself back into work after two weeks off.

This wonderful collaboration between Ryder and Inkie was actually painted way back in May and for some inexplicable reason never got posted at the time… it happens.

Ryder, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2024
Ryder, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2024

To the left, and slightly impacted by the shadow cast across the top, is some superb writing by Ryder, which is accompanied by Evil Edna, the television character from the cartoon series Willo the Wisp. There are some great fill colours, oozing confidence, without overcomplicating things. Great to see Ryder managing to paint a little.

Inkie, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2024
Inkie, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2024

Inkie is arguably the best know Bristol artist still regularly painting in the city, and this is a sumptuous example of his stylised lettering. The piece is pretty much perfect in every way and like Ryder’s piece is confident and uncomplicated. Both are writers at the top of their games, with nothing to prove, and it comes across in their work.

5081. Brunel Way (196)

Wispa, Brunel Way, Bristol, March 2023
Wispa, Brunel Way, Bristol, March 2023

I follow Wispa (Willo the Wisp) on Instagram, and it seems that not only is she talented and prolific with her art, but she seems to travel extensively to paint with friends wherever she pitches up. Fortunately, she appears to have some RBF friends in Bristol, and we are treated to her work every now and again.

Wispa, Brunel Way, Bristol, March 2023
Wispa, Brunel Way, Bristol, March 2023

This piece under Brunel Way is a real cracker, with so much to enjoy. The first impression is how bright and colourful the piece is, but it is so much more than that. The fills in the letters are strong and the lines between colours straight and sharp. Of course, the character on the left tops the piece off beautifully, but it would be just as strong without it, demonstrating the quality of her writing. I hope she returns soon, although there is a little extra piece she painted on this visit.

3414. M32 roundabout J3 (273)

Here is a recent fun piece from Ryder down at the M32 roundabout featuring characters from the Willo the Wisp children’s TV programme from the 1980s. There is always something that makes me smile about incorporating children’s characters into the subversive world of graffiti art.

Ryder, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2020
Ryder, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2020

The writing is, as always, perfectly painted, with nice letter shapes and horizontal colour fills that complement each other well. The 3D shadow has a vanishing point in the centre of the piece which is less common than the shadow going in one direction.

Ryder, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2020
Ryder, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2020

The piece is bookended with characters from the show, with Willo on the right and on the left Evil Edna, the TV set. A very nice holiday piece from Ryder.

1327. Dean Lane skate park (110)

Just recently Biers has been rather busy in Dean Lane, and this is the first of two pieces I am posting. Biers likes this particular wall and has sprayed here before. I think I got here just a little late, as it has a rather incongruous line “cocaine is good for your brain” scrawled across the piece.

Biers, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2018
Biers, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2018

In this wall I think he has included alongside the letters BIERS the cartoon character Willo the Wisp, the voice of which was expertly provided by the late Kenneth Williams. A nice tidy piece on one of my favourite walls in Dean Lane.