3232. Brunel Way bridge (59)

It is always good to return to my old favourites from time to time, keeping Natural Adventures grounded and not obsessed with high-end pieces, which could be very tempting but nowhere nearly as representative of the Bristol scene. The beating heart of graffiti and street art lie in the hands of people like Mr Draws and Face 1st – the unsung heroes of our city.

Mr Draws, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2020
Mr Draws, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2020

This is a piece from a short while back  by Mr draws that has a rather lovely feel to it. The colour fills are rather interesting and unruly, but somehow work really well and the whole thing, spelling out DRAWS, lifts nicely off the wall and the vibrant colours make it nice and lively. A decent piece that many might ignore and walk past.

3231. St Werburghs tunnel (194)

I was lucky enough to meet Frank Riot as she was working on this fabulous tribute piece to a friend of hers who had passed away a couple of years ago.

Although he hadn’t started his contribution at that point, the whole thing was actually a collaboration with Stivs albeit not necessarily painted at exactly the same time. Frank Riot is from London but had come to Bristol specially to paint this tribute. I chatted with her for a little while as she was working on the bottom half of the design using a lot of masking tape to get those superb straight lines.

Frank Riot WIP, St Werburghs, Bristol, September 2020
Frank Riot WIP, St Werburghs, Bristol, September 2020

Unfortunately I didn’t get to see her or Stivs completing the piece, but returned a couple of days later to check it out. It has turned out wonderfully well and the huge contrast between the artist’s styles somehow doesn’t seem to matter too much.

Frank Riot and Stivs, St Werburghs, Bristol, September 2020
Frank Riot and Stivs, St Werburghs, Bristol, September 2020

Frank Riot is a designer and that comes across clearly in her work Whereas Stivs is a specialist in beautiful Gothic type script graffiti writing. This wall usually has a high turnover, but I hope this tribute piece receives a little bit of respect for a while, it certainly deserves it.

3229. M32 roundabout J3 (255)

What an absolutely amazing sight awaited a couple of weeks back on the M32 roundabout. I check the roundabout about once or twice a week, usually on the off chance that there might be something new, and sometimes because I have seen something on social media and need to check it out. This was definitely one that fell into the former category and was a lovely surprise.

Void One, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2020
Void One, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2020

The portrait is by Void One, an artist I don’t really know who I think is from Birmingham. I think, looking at his website, that his thing is 3D writing and you can see a little bit of that clutched in the hand of his character. Incidentally, I think (but am guessing really) that the character is a self-portrait.

Void One, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2020
Void One, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2020

This is really rather different from the usual fare we see on the roundabout and most welcome it is too. The whole piece is set off nicely with a silhouette cityscape in the background and dark night time colours. I believe that he might also have painted the tenth and final archway in John Street, so I will have to get myself down there before too long. Always a real pleasure seeing work from a visiting artist.

3228. M32 Spot (83)

There is little new that I can say about Smak. I have used pretty much run out of superlatives to describe his work. So I will go easy, and you can take it as read that this is yet another stunner from this Bristol-based graffiti writer.

Smak, M32 Spot, Bristol, September 2020
Smak, M32 Spot, Bristol, September 2020

The colour combinations were similar to those chosen by Soker, Inkie and Sled One all of whom painted alongside Smak on this wall a little while back. When I see top quality writing like this, I wonder where the artist can go next, but they have such talent that they can keep on painting outstandinng pieces. I particularly like the hole and drip on the bottom edge of the right hand leg of the ‘M’. Top work.

3225. Hepburn Road (18)

I am really enjoying acquainting myself with the work of Phour (whose Instagram account is @bumwin if you are interested). His letters lend themselves to a rather pleasing form, which is not the case with all writers, with the P and H being particularly nice.

Phour, Hepburn Road, Bristol, September 2020
Phour, Hepburn Road, Bristol, September 2020

This piece combines the contrasting pink and turquoises with real panache and if there is one thing that is consistent about Phour’s work it is his use of bright and vibrant colours. This one is tucked away in Hepburn Road, which is always worth an occasional visit where gems can be found from time to time.

Zase

A gallery of outstanding murals from Bristol artist and designer Zase

All photographs by Scooj

Zase, Dean Street, Bristol, August 2021, Upfest 21
Zase, Dean Street, Bristol, August 2021, Upfest 21
Zase, John Street, Bristol, September 2020
Zase, John Street, Bristol, September 2020

 

Zase and Silent Hobo, Alfred Street, Bristol, September 2020
Zase and Silent Hobo, Alfred Street, Bristol, September 2020
Zase, York Street, Bristol, March 2020
Zase, York Street, Bristol, March 2020
Zase, York Street, Bristol, March 2020
Zase, York Street, Bristol, March 2020
Zase, York Street, Bristol, March 2020
Zase, York Street, Bristol, March 2020
Zase, Barton Road, Bristol, April 2019
Zase, Barton Road, Bristol, April 2019
Zase and Dekor, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Zase and Dekor, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Zase, Newfoundland Road, Bristol, September 2018
Zase, Newfoundland Road, Bristol, September 2018
Zase, Newfoundland Road, Bristol, September 2018
Zase, Newfoundland Road, Bristol, September 2018
Zase, Newfoundland Road, Bristol, September 2018
Zase, Newfoundland Road, Bristol, September 2018
Zase, Newfoundland Road, Bristol, September 2018
Zase, Newfoundland Road, Bristol, September 2018
Zase and Dekor, Mina Road, Bristol, June 2018
Zase and Dekor, Mina Road, Bristol, June 2018
Zase and Dekor, Mina Road, Bristol, June 2018
Zase and Dekor, Mina Road, Bristol, June 2018
Zase and Dekor, Mina Road, Bristol, June 2018
Zase and Dekor, Mina Road, Bristol, June 2018
Zase and Dekor, Mina Road, Bristol, June 2018
Zase and Dekor, Mina Road, Bristol, June 2018
Zase and Dekor, Cottrell Road, Bristol, September 2017
Zase and Dekor, Cottrell Road, Bristol, September 2017
Zase and Dekor, Cottrell Road, Bristol, September 2017
Zase and Dekor, Cottrell Road, Bristol, September 2017
Zase and Dekor, Cottrell Road, Bristol, September 2017
Zase and Dekor, Cottrell Road, Bristol, September 2017
Zase and Dekor, Cottrell Road, Bristol, September 2017
Zase and Dekor, Cottrell Road, Bristol, September 2017
Zase and Dekor, M32 Spot, Bristol, June 2017
Zase and Dekor, M32 Spot, Bristol, June 2017
Zase and Dekor, M32 Spot, Bristol, June 2017
Zase and Dekor, M32 Spot, Bristol, June 2017
Zase and Dekor, M32 Spot, Bristol, June 2017
Zase and Dekor, M32 Spot, Bristol, June 2017
Zase and Dekor, M32 Spot, Bristol, June 2017
Zase and Dekor, M32 Spot, Bristol, June 2017
Zase and Dekor, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2017
Zase and Dekor, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2017
Zase and Dekor, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2017
Zase and Dekor, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2017
Zase and Dekor, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Zase and Dekor, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Zase, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Zase, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Zase and Dekor, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Zase and Dekor, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Zase and Dekor, Gloucester Road, Bristol, August 2015
Zase and Dekor, Gloucester Road, Bristol, August 2015
Zase and Dekor, Gloucester Road, Bristol, August 2015
Zase and Dekor, Gloucester Road, Bristol, August 2015
Zase and Dekor, Gloucester Road, Bristol, August 2015
Zase and Dekor, Gloucester Road, Bristol, August 2015
Zase and Dekor, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2016
Zase and Dekor, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2016
Zase and Dekor, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2016
Zase and Dekor, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2016
Zase, Muller Road, Bristol, April 2016
Zase, Muller Road, Bristol, April 2016
Zase, Muller Road, Bristol, April 2016
Zase, Muller Road, Bristol, April 2016
Zase, Muller Road, Bristol, April 2016
Zase, Muller Road, Bristol, April 2016
Zase, Muller Road, Bristol, April 2016
Zase, Muller Road, Bristol, April 2016
Zase and Dekor, Claremont Road, Bristol, August 2015
Zase and Dekor, Claremont Road, Bristol, August 2015
Zase and Dekor, Claremont Road, Bristol, August 2015
Zase and Dekor, Claremont Road, Bristol, August 2015
Zase and Dekor, Claremont Road, Bristol, August 2015
Zase and Dekor, Claremont Road, Bristol, August 2015
Zase and Dekor, Ashley Road, Bristol, November 2015
Zase and Dekor, Ashley Road, Bristol, November 2015
Zase and Dekor, Ashley Road, Bristol, November 2015
Zase and Dekor, Ashley Road, Bristol, November 2015
Zase and Dekor, Ashley Road, Bristol, November 2015
Zase and Dekor, Ashley Road, Bristol, November 2015
Zase and Dekor, York Street, Bristol, September 2015
Zase and Dekor, York Street, Bristol, September 2015
Zase and Dekor, York Street, Bristol, September 2015
Zase and Dekor, York Street, Bristol, September 2015
Zase and Dekor, York Street, Bristol, September 2015
Zase and Dekor, York Street, Bristol, September 2015
Zase and Dekor, York Street, Bristol, September 2015
Zase and Dekor, York Street, Bristol, September 2015
Zase and Dekor, Cottrell Street, Bristol, August 2015
Zase and Dekor, Cottrell Street, Bristol, August 2015
Zase and Dekor, Cottrell Street, Bristol, August 2015
Zase and Dekor, Cottrell Street, Bristol, August 2015
Zase and Dekor, detail, Cottrell Street, Bristol, August 2015
Zase and Dekor, detail, Cottrell Street, Bristol, August 2015
Zase, Gloucester Road, Bristol
Zase, Gloucester Road, Bristol

3214. Brunel Way bridge (57)

Daz Cat seems to be a very social artist. A great many of his pieces are painted with friends such as Kool Hand and more recently Varo. This piece was one of several in a loose collaboration, more of a paint jam really.

Daz Cat, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2020
Daz Cat, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2020

I am quite enjoying Daz Cat’s writing/character combinations and in this one the cat on the right is holding up the letters on the left spelling out D CAT. His writing style is unusual, quite organic and irregular but somehow similar to his cat style.

Daz Cat, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2020
Daz Cat, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2020

The cat is a good one, and like so many of his cats seems to be wearing a woolly jumper. All in all another nice contribution from Daz Cat.

3211. Brunel Way bridge (56)

I have a feeling that this might be the first piece that I have posted by Stivs. This is something of a poor show on my part, because I have plenty of pieces by him in my folders, but just never got round to posting any of them. I am putting this wrong right with this lovely piece of writing under Brunel Way by the riverside.

Stivs, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2020
Stivs, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2020

Stivs is probably best know for his beautiful gothic script works. These ornate letters spell out BDSC although I’m not too sure what this represents, but will come to know in time I’m sure. The letters are well proportioned and drafted and the colours work well The yellow and white lines help to lift the letters from the wall. Overall a wonderful piece. More to come soon.

3210. M32 Cycle path (78)

This piece was painted a little while back by Decay, but I decided to dig it out because it marks further experimentation from an artist, who, when I first met him only painted in black, white, red and grey colours. His artistic journey has blossomed over the last three or so years and his pieces are becoming more and more interesting as a result.

Decay, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, August 2020
Decay, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, August 2020

Most unusually, Decay has gone for orange and purple colours with green highlights and arrows. More unusually he hasn’t used black outlines for his letters, although his little Chuck character does have an outline. Spelling out DECAY, I see this piece as pivotal in the artist really pushing himself to try new ideas. I love the orange splashes above the A. Looking forward to more developments.

3209. Dean Lane skate park (355)

I last met Jee See during a mini paint jam under Brunel Way back on a sunny summer’s day, and he had already completed his column piece and was just chilling and chewing the fat with friends. I haven’t seen any of his work since then until a week or two ago.

Jee See, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2020
Jee See, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2020

Jee See presents us with one of his ‘seismic’ pieces which has a political strand to it with the accompanying message of ‘Underclass rising’. It is nicely sprayed and planted over the top of an existing graffiti piece which makes the whole thing quite busy.

Unfortunately the piece has been dogged, probably by a kid with an almost empty discarded spraycan (it happens a lot). It is a pity, but it goes with the territory. My message – artists…take your empty cans home and dispose of them properly.