5824. L Dub (53)

Rusk, L Dub, Bristol, January 2024
Rusk, L Dub, Bristol, January 2024

It is always a great pleasure to find any writing by Rusk, and this relatively simple piece in the tunnel under the M5 at L Dub came as a nice surprise. There is a nice shout-out to DJ Perks, whose work dominates this spot, and I am guessing that they painted together on this occasion.

Rusk, L Dub, Bristol, January 2024
Rusk, L Dub, Bristol, January 2024

The bubble style writing is nicely filled with graded browns and a red base. Unfortunately the red paint is a little thin and looks a little patchy. What stands out for me though is the way the little white spots at the tops of the letters, create an incredible 3D effect helping the letters to pop out from the wall. Classy work from Rusk as always.

Urban wasteland, Lawrence Weston, January 2024
Urban wasteland, Lawrence Weston, January 2024

It would seem that Rusk took a moment out to leave his mark nearby, too.

5822. Dean Lane skate park (688)

Dibz, Dean Lane skate park, Bristol, February 2024
Dibz, Dean Lane skate park, Bristol, February 2024

Something a little different from Dibz on the curved wall in Dean Lane skate park, illustrating the point that Dibz is anything but a one-trick-pony (some trick at that). The writing feels a little bit retro, and the incorporation of a series of black and white pixels adds to that effect.

Dibz, Dean Lane skate park, Bristol, February 2024
Dibz, Dean Lane skate park, Bristol, February 2024

Interestingly, the pixel squares are a little uneven and most unlike Dibz’ precision work – I wonder if there is a tiny chink in his perfect armour… The piece includes the word Metal Headz, which I assume means something to Dibz, but sadly nothing to me. Some fun and variety from the maestro.

5819. Peel Street Green (25)

Serm, Peel Street Green, Bristol, February 2024
Serm, Peel Street Green, Bristol, February 2024

Although he only paints occasionally, Serm always leaves a good impression. This is a nice large piece of graffiti writing on the long wall at Peel Street Green. One of the interesting features of this wall is that it is broken down into about eight equal sized sections, each one just the right size (actually on the slightly large size) for an individual to showcase their work. Each ‘frame’ is rarely dogged, and some pieces can remain here for quite a while.

Serm, Peel Street Green, Bristol, February 2024
Serm, Peel Street Green, Bristol, February 2024

Serm writes with large chunky letters and a deep 3D drop shadow, in this case in lilac/purple shades that contrast with the green/yellows in the letter fills. There is a certain amount of panache about his work, and it is a genuine pity that he doesn’t manage to get out and paint more often.

5817. L Dub (52)

Donz, L Dub, Bristol, January 2024
Donz, L Dub, Bristol, January 2024

I am so pleased that Donz is starting to get more of a presence on Natural Adventures, an unfortunate underrepresentation which is an artefact of the fact that I don’t visit L Dub all that often, and Donz rarely paints anywhere else in Bristol.

Donz, L Dub, Bristol, January 2024
Donz, L Dub, Bristol, January 2024

This is a fun piece in a typically wacky style from Donz made all the more fun by the inclusion of a character face replacing the ‘O’ in his letters. It is a fact of life in street art writing, that the letter ‘O’ more than any other can be fiddled around with and replaced, for example Biers and his WD40 and Boogie with his double ‘O’s. There is some nice lettering here that bleeds away at the top.

Either Donz needs to come into the centre more often, or I need to get out to L Dub, but until one or both of those things happen, Donz will most likely only make occasional appearances in these pages.

5816. St Werburghs tunnel (405)

Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, January 2024
Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, January 2024

I am very short of time today, with lots to do, having spent the whole of yesterday in London at a wonderful wedding of a cousin of mine. Still feeling a little worse for wear, and tired, as we were on the last train out of London, and then had to endure music and a party in our next door neighbour’s flat which continued until 4am. A little bit of Mr Klue magic is the perfect antidote to this.

Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, January 2024
Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, January 2024

Mr Klue has been a little quiet over the winter, but seems to be cranking things up a little. This piece is in one of his favoured spots, and is probably one of his clearest renditions of the letters KLUE in his ephemeral abstract style. A perfect piece for a Sunday morning.

5814. New Stadium Road (54)

Raid, New Stadium Road, Bristol, January 2024
Raid, New Stadium Road, Bristol, January 2024

It feels like Raid has been really upping his game lately, both in frequency of painting and in the quality of his work. When I first saw this piece, I said “oh yes!” under my breath, knowing that I was looking at a really classy piece of writing that has come about through hard graft and honing of skills. Watching Raid’s development is a joy and a pleasure.

Raid, New Stadium Road, Bristol, January 2024
Raid, New Stadium Road, Bristol, January 2024

It is impossible to ignore the brilliant fill pattern, which although quite simple in concept is beautifully executed and really effective… it has the ‘wow’ factor. The letters RAID are in a rotationally symmetrical form, a form that Raid has used several times before. An outstanding piece of graffiti writing.

5812. M32 roundabout J3 (549)

Werm, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2024
Werm, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2024

Having not seen Werm for an eternity, it was really nice to bump into him while he was painting this piece. What made the encounter stranger still was that we had been communicating the day before about a RichT piece that I had posted. Sometimes it is difficult not to believe in coincidence, although I know there is a whole ton of evidence to dismiss it.

Werm, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2024
Werm, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2024

Werm is trying out something a little different in this piece, and has definitely edged away from his ultra-complex wildstyle pieces of the last year or two. The notable thing about this piece is the gently pastel colours softly transitioning across all of the letters in a seemingly random sequence. The strong 3D shadow, green border and trimmings and the black buffed wall help the piece to stand out nicely. A good start to the New Year from Werm.

5811. Greville Smyth Park (1)

Acer One and Andy Council, Greville Smyth Park, Bristol, January 2024
Acer One and Andy Council, Greville Smyth Park, Bristol, January 2024

The bunch of small buildings in the southeast corner of Greville Smyth Park have served as a canvas for the last few Upfest festivals, and this wall has recently been ‘dressed’ with this outstanding collaboration from Acer One and Andy Council. From the colours, you might pick up that this piece recognises and supports the plight of the Palestinian people, and Acer One offers a full explanation of the piece in his Instagram feed.

Acer One and Andy Council, Greville Smyth Park, Bristol, January 2024
Acer One and Andy Council, Greville Smyth Park, Bristol, January 2024

The letters SPEAK BIRD are beautifully presented by Acer One with his characteristic black shadow. The birds, which look like bee eaters to me, are by Andy Council. The one on the right is rather disturbingly composed of bombs and missiles. Both elements of the piece are beautifully painted and the words poignant once you know the back-story to the piece. I wish it would all just end.

5810. New Stadium Road (53)

Mr Riks, New Stadium Road, Bristol, January 2024
Mr Riks, New Stadium Road, Bristol, January 2024

There are a multitude of reasons why street/graffiti artists go through productive and non-productive phases, sometimes to do with friends, family and relationships, sometimes location/geography, sometimes employment, sometimes mental/physical health issues and sometimes simply falling in or out of love with it. I am pleased to report that Mr Riks seems to have found a rhythm and has been out and about a fair bit recently.

Mr Riks, New Stadium Road, Bristol, January 2024
Mr Riks, New Stadium Road, Bristol, January 2024

This is a spot, where Mr Riks has painted before, alongside his friend Silent Hobo. This time it is a solo piece, and a very nice one at that. Some great colours in the distinctive bubble script writing, with a couple of cheeky characters peering on. A great piece from an accomplished writer.

5809. Dean Lane skate park (686)

Fade, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2024
Fade, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2024

I am so incredibly short of time today, suffering from having to plough through a mountain of work that has accumulated during the week that I was away. I sometimes wonder if it is worth going on holiday at all, because the feel-good factor wears off so quickly. This is a stunner from Fade.

Fade, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2024
Fade, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2024

It is quite difficult to understand just how Fade manages to turn out so many high quality pieces, each and every one completely original and perfectly turned out – he has certainly found his niche. This piece looks like a fiery furnace of coke or coal blasting out heat to create the hot letters. Great design, superb fills… excellent piece from Fade.