Writer – Page 137 – Natural adventures

5187. Hepburn Road (20)

The colourful nature of the Stokes Croft area is perhaps best represented by this little alleyway, known locally as ‘Crack Alley’. Although the drug dealing that used to be the USP of this corner of Bristol has moved on, the graffitied walls continue to be a feature, and every now and again an absolute beauty appears. This collaboration from PWA artists Face 1st and Zake is just such a beauty.

Face 1st, Hepburn Road, Bristol, April 2023

The PWA writing is by Face 1st, and is quite a rarity, as he usually writes FACE. The orange is really striking in this dark alley, and the depth to the letters really helps them to pop out from the wall. There are some nice shout-outs to Nightwayss, Soap and Chill too.

The character piece from Zake is brilliant and seems to portray a young tagger looking rather upset – maybe he got caught spraying walls. The shorts and t-shirt are a stroke of genius, and the body position suggests a lot of forward movement from the character. I absolutely love this, it makes me laugh, a lot. Altogether a superb collaboration from this pair.

5186. Cumberland Basin

Still, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2023

It is a remarkable thing, but I continue to ‘find’ graffiti writers and street artists, only to discover that they have been around for years and that they just haven’t been on my radar at all. One such artist is Still, who I met about a week ago, and since meeting him I have found two of his recent pieces. How does that work? And how many do I have in my archive?

Still is obviously an accomplished writer, and when I met him, he was coaching Maes, another artist I haven’t yet featured on Natural Adventures. This is a very busy piece, spelling out STILL, with a great overall shape and dynamic fills, finished off nicely with a clean red border. Watch this space for more from Still.

5184. Dean Lane skate park (592)

This is a rather unusual piece by Stivs, and I have to say I’m really not very sure what it all means, so I decided to do a bit of a Google Interweb search. I think that the piece splits into two. On the left is a reference to an Australian film called Chopper and a character called Mark ‘Chopper’ Read who I assume says at some point in the film “Neville Fuck’n Bartos”. One for a quiet evening maybe. The other half is some stunning calligraffiti spelling out Jules.

Stivs has been pushing the boundaries recently with character pieces and portraits, mostly linked to films, and his portfolio is about so much more than just his outstanding calligraffiti. The writing looks like it might be a tribute to Jules – I don’t know much more than that about it. My only reservation about this piece is the background, I can only guess that it has some significance.

5183. Norfolk Place (6)

Soker is an artist who has definitely slowed down a little bit in terms of his graffiti writing over the last couple of years, but he has certainly made up for things with this immense piece in Norfolk Place, replacing one of his own pieces there.

Soker, Norfolk Place, Bristol, April 2023

This is a top-notch piece of classic wildstyle graffiti writing, spelling SOKEM. The colour selection and progressions are superb, as is the 3D drop shadow in purple and lilac with its central vanishing point. The whole thing oozes class, and one can be pretty sure that the piece will remain untagged and intact until such time as Soker chooses to repaint it (probably years).

5182. M32 Cycle path (212)

Mudra and Saor, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, April 2023

This narrow section of the M32 Cycle path wall that is difficult to photograph, even with a wide angle capability, which is exacerbated when there is a collaboration from two writers who like to spread themselves out a bit. To add to the difficulties, the light conditions are particularly challenging in this section – I think I did ok though.

Mudra, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, April 2023

To the left of this NTS rhapsody in blue is a classy collection of letters by Mudra, spelling MUDRA, as you would expect. Mudra specialises in using a different design for each letter in his work, and then bringing them all together through clever colour selection and some style element that is unique to the artist.

Saor, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, April 2023

The right-hand side of the collaborative wall is by Saor, whose work is always as tight as it is creative. His goofy monster character is the centrepiece to the letters SAOR, which is typically rather cryptic. This is a wonderful piece and part of a really great collaboration.

Lee Roy

A gallery of fabulous graffiti writing from Bristol’s Lee Roy

Instagram: @leroyale191

All photographs by Scooj

Lee Roy, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, September 2023

Lee Roy, M32 roundabout, Bristol, August 2023

Lee Roy, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2023

Lee Roy, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2023

Lee Roy and Waste, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2023

Lee Roy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2023

Lee Roy, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2023

Lee Roy, Moon Street, Bristol, February 2023

Lee Roy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, February 2023

Lee Roy, St Werburghs, Bristol, January 2023

Lee Roy, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2022 — Lee Roy,M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2022

Lee Roy, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, May 2021

Lee Roy, New Stadium Road, Bristol, May 2021

Lee Roy, St Werburghs, Bristol, April 2021

Lee Roy, M32 cycle path, Bristol, March 2021

Lee Roy, Moon Street, Bristol, February 2021

Lee Roy, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2021

Lee Roy, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2021

5181. Cottrell Road (3)

Zase, Cottrell Road, Bristol, April 2023

This extraordinary piece by Zase is one of the most beautiful pieces in the city right now, if not the most beautiful. It is the third consecutive piece by the artist on this wall that I can remember, and like its predecessors has already become something of a landmark adjacent to the Eastville roundabout.

Continuing on today’s insect theme from Sled One’s Burberry bumblebee piece in the previous post, this piece is all about the honey bees. To the left, dandelions in flower and seed dominate the woodland (hinted) scene, while two bees navigate their way through the floating ‘parachute’ seeds.

The dandelion is, on its own, a work of art and I find myself utterly confounded as to how Zase painted this with spray paint.The finest detail has been incorporated, and his observational skills are outstanding, with the little marks left on the seed head by departed seeds.

The yellow and orange honeycomb letters spell out ZASE in some of the best anamorphic graffiti writing you’ll be lucky enough to see, and a bee has settled on the comb to the right.

The whole thing is a masterpiece and a fabulous advert for the artist who paints commissions. If I could afford it…

Zase and Dekor, Cottrell Road, Bristol, September 2017

Zase and Dekor, Cottrell Street, Bristol, August 2015

5179. Sparke Evans Park (68)

Bnie, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, April 2023

There were so many exceptional pieces painted for the ‘Burberry check’ themed paint jam down at Sparke Evans Park, and in the main they were of the highest quality. I might be pushing the boat out here a bit, but this might be one of the best pieces I have seen by Bnie altogether.

Her distinctive letters have been given the Burberry treatment, but it is not only the familiar check patterns that are stunningly presented, but the 3D drop shadow and border are so neat and tidy too. The whole thing is set on a dark blue wall with some cloudy wisps around the edges which help the writing to pop out a bit from the wall. Absolutely stunning work from Bnie.

5178. M32 roundabout J3 (469)

Hire, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2023

I was lucky enough to run into Hire and Cort when they were painting alongside each other on a rather lovely afternoon a week or two back. You don’t often get to see Hire’s work on this roundabout wall, so it was a pleasant surprise to see him painting there.

As I would always expect, his piece oozes quality and class. Set on a wonderful blue background, Hire has spelled out HIRE and added a wonderful angry bunny accompaniment. Just in passing, this photograph illustrates the weight of decades of paint that has been plastered on this wall and which ripples and bubbles – at some point large chunks of paint will tumble off the wall under its own weight.

The letters are outstanding, and their uniformity of design is touching on calligraffiti. Little puffy clouds are intertwined with the letters. Of course, Hire has given us the extra light of a bunny, that is like a mega-tag for the artist.

5175. Sparke Evans Park (67)

Mena, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, April 2023

This stunner by Mena, writing MENAS, is her contribution to the recent Burberry’s themed paint jam, recently held in Sparke Evans Park. It is a clever theme, with each artist incorporating the Burberry check in their own way. It is interesting how a household brand is so instantly recognisable, even if it isn’t necessarily presented in the form that we are used to seeing.

This is a real quality piece of writing from Mena, whose work is probably underrepresented on Natural Adventures. It might even be the best that I have seen from her. Perfect colours, complex checks and a sound 3D drop-shadow and border combine to make this a most enjoyable piece. A couple more and I will have enough for a gallery.

	hitandrun1964 on 7467. Surbiton Station, L…
	paulh121 on 7467. Surbiton Station, L…
	Sheree on 7466. Cumberland Basin
	scooj on 7466. Cumberland Basin
	Sheree on 7466. Cumberland Basin

	hitandrun1964 on 7467. Surbiton Station, L…
	paulh121 on 7467. Surbiton Station, L…
	Sheree on 7466. Cumberland Basin
	scooj on 7466. Cumberland Basin
	Sheree on 7466. Cumberland Basin

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: