2284. M32 roundabout J13 (149)

Over the last three or four months a new (to me) graffiti writer, Phist, has hit the streets hard, often partnering up with Renso (who is actually Oner). He seems most unfussy about where he sprays and his name has sprung up all over the city. I often wonder with these ‘new’ artists whether they are in fact simply new to Bristol or whether somehow they have just been off my radar… difficult to know until I get a chance to ask them.

Phist, M32 Roundabout, Bristol, June 2019
Phist, M32 Roundabout, Bristol, June 2019

I am not the biggest fan of burners like this, but some of these writers rise to the top and Phist in my view is one of those.  His letters are nice and clean, his fills nicely done and the little accent white circles help to give the whole thing a little bit of sparkle. I think this is a rather classy and smooth piece and a strong debut to the pages of Natural Adventures.

2283.Dean Lane skate park (223)

It can be a little tiresome for people like me when artists change their ‘street’ names, because it mucks up how I catalogue them and how I write about them. A case in point is Biers (old name) who now goes by the moniker Kool Aid, and instead of writing Biers like he used to, writes Oh Yeah instead. I am a creature of habit so will continue to call him Biers, so there! In this piece he has teamed up with No Frills stablemate Bags about whom I know zilch, so some work for me to do there.

Biers, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2019
Biers, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2019

The standard approach from Biers is to accompany his uniquely stylish writing with a little character, usually associated with a TV cartoon character. I rather enjoy trying to find out who his little characters are, but in this piece my Google research has failed me. Nice tidy collaboration.

2281. Norfolk Place (5)

Sometimes you’ve just got to go big and bold, and they don’t come much bigger and bolder than this fine piece of writing from Soker. This is a wall that doesn’t seem to change all that often, and is usually occupied by an ASK artist.

Soker, Norfolk Place, Bristol, April 2019
Soker, Norfolk Place, Bristol, April 2019

There is a lot to like about this piece which looks so graceful, clean and simple, but it takes a lot of skill and experience to pull off writing like this. The letter font is easy on the eye, and the green and white highlights help to give a 3D appearance, and the whole thing is set off on a nice background of cool colours and shapes. It is the pink touches that add just a little bit of class. A fine work.

2275. M32 roundabout J3 (149)

Wahey! Another sensational Soap piece, and it seems like there is absolutely no stopping him at the moment… he’s on a roll. This is a crazy and eclectic piece that draws on a whole bunch of styles, patterns and colours to spell out SOAP.

Soap, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2019
Soap, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2019

I just get the feeling every time I see his work that there is a lot of joy going on at the moment and it really comes across in his work. With some artists you can spot angst or pain or sadness or perfectionism and so on, but Soap’s work simply screams out happiness.

 

 

2271. M32 roundabout J3 (148)

It would seem that artists from Cardiff like to swing by Bristol every now and again, and when they do come they tend to paint together, I suppose a bit of a paint jam on tour really. This is a really lovely piece by Unity, a graffiti writer I met at Upfest last year whose work I don’t get to see too often so it was nice to find this one down at the M32 roundabout.

Unity, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2019
Unity, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2019

Her work is quite organic in appearance, and this piece looks almost edible, like icing on a cake or something. Unity blends her colours very nicely and this piece drops from yellow to brown to pink without any harsh lines. Great work. It is a pity we have to wait so long between visits.

Unity, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2018
Unity, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2018

2268. M32 Cycle path (28)

Ok, so another debut on Natural Adventures, this time a piece by Bnie. I have been aware of her work for quite a while and have several of her pieces in my archive (I’ll have to dig them out now, having broken the ice), but have just never posted any of them until now.

Bnie, M32 cycle path, Bristol, June 2019
Bnie, M32 cycle path, Bristol, June 2019

I believe she might have a Welsh connection, as I have seen her work alongside Smak before and also when Welsh crews come over to paint in Bristol her work is sometimes among them. She has a lovely touch and style to her work and this piece is beautifully filled. I wish I could do what these guys do, it just looks so good. I look forward to sharing more of her pieces and trying to find out a little bit more about her.

2265. Dean Lane skate park (220)

This lovely collaboration by paint amigos Laic217 and Cort is one of those ones that kind of passed the world by. I haven’t seen it at all on social media, and it might be that it was painted over shortly after completion and maybe I just got lucky.

Laic217, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2019
Laic217, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2019

On the left of the collaboration is a caracter piece by Laic complete with bucket hat and gold chain, and then to the right a rather tidy piece by Cort in his characteristic letter shapes with some decent fills and decorations. All in all a nice collaboration. Not sure the dog was all that impressed though.

Smak

A gallery of top drawer graffiti writing by Bristol’s artist Smak.

Instagram: @smaktown

All photographs taken by Scooj.

Smak, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2022
Smak, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2022
Smak, Brunel Way, Bristol, July 2022
Smak, Brunel Way, Bristol, July 2022
Smak, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2022
Smak, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2022
Smak, Greenbank, Bristol, March 2022
Smak, Greenbank, Bristol, March 2022
Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2022
Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2022
Smak, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, January 2022
Smak, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, January 2022
Smak, Peel Street Green, Bristol, January 2022
Smak, Peel Street Green, Bristol, January 2022
Smak, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2021
Smak, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2021
Smak, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2021
Smak, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2021
Smak, Picton Lane, Bristol, January 2021
Smak, Picton Lane, Bristol, January 2021
Kosc, Smak and Sled One, Picton Lane, Bristol, January 2021
Kosc, Smak and Sled One, Picton Lane, Bristol, January 2021
Smak, Upper York Street, Bristol, January 2021
Smak, Upper York Street, Bristol, January 2021
Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2020
Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2020
Smak, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2020
Smak, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2020
Smak, M32 cycle path, Bristol, November 2020
Smak, M32 cycle path, Bristol, November 2020
Smak, M32 Spot, Bristol, October 2020
Smak, M32 Spot, Bristol, October 2020
Smak and Mena, M32 Spot, Bristol, October 2020
Smak and Mena, M32 Spot, Bristol, October 2020
Smak, M32 cycle path, Bristol, October 2020
Smak, M32 cycle path, Bristol, October 2020
Smak, Curtis Hylton, Ments and Sled One, Clift House Road, Bristol, October 2020
Smak, Curtis Hylton, Ments and Sled One, Clift House Road, Bristol, October 2020
Smak, Clift House Road, Bristol, October 2020
Smak, Clift House Road, Bristol, October 2020
Smak, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2020
Smak, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2020
Smak, M32 Spot, Bristol, September 2020
Smak, M32 Spot, Bristol, September 2020
Smak, Alfred Street, Bristol, September 2020
Smak, Alfred Street, Bristol, September 2020
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2020
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2020
Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2020
Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2020
Pekoe and Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2020
Pekoe and Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2020
Tom Miller, Smak and Sled One, Nova Scotia, Bristol, July 2020
Tom Miller, Smak and Sled One, Nova Scotia, Bristol, July 2020
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2020
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2020
Hazard and Smak, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2020
Hazard and Smak, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2020
Smak, Frome side, Bristol, June 2020
Smak, Frome side, Bristol, June 2020
Smak, Hereford Street, Bristol, April 2019
Smak, Hereford Street, Bristol, April 2019
Smak, M32 cycle path, Bristol, May 2018
Smak, M32 cycle path, Bristol, May 2018
Smak, Upper York Street, Bristol, April 2020
Smak, Upper York Street, Bristol, April 2020
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2020
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2020
Smak, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2020
Smak, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2020
Smak, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2020
Smak, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2020
Smak, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2020
Smak, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2020
Smak, L Dub, Bristol, January 2020
Smak, L Dub, Bristol, January 2020
Smak, Brunel Way bridge, Bristol, January 2020
Smak, Brunel Way bridge, Bristol, January 2020
Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2019
Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2019
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, November 2019
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, November 2019
Smak, L Dub, Bristol, October 2019
Smak, L Dub, Bristol, October 2019
Smak, M32 cycle path, Bristol, June 2019
Smak, M32 cycle path, Bristol, June 2019
Smak, M32 cycle path, Bristol, May 2019
Smak, M32 cycle path, Bristol, May 2019
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, May 2019
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, May 2019
Smak, Upper York Street, Bristol, April 2019
Smak, Upper York Street, Bristol, April 2019
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2019
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2019
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2019
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2019
Smak and Sled One, Nelson Street, Bristol, March 2019
Smak and Sled One, Nelson Street, Bristol, March 2019
Smak, Nelson Street, Bristol, March 2019
Smak, Nelson Street, Bristol, March 2019
Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2019
Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2019
Smak, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Smak, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Smak, Lower Ashley Road, Bristol, January 2019
Smak, Lower Ashley Road, Bristol, January 2019
Smak, Wilder Street, Bristol, December 2018
Smak, Wilder Street, Bristol, December 2018
Smak, Wilder Street, Bristol, December 2018
Smak, Wilder Street, Bristol, December 2018
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, November 20189
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, November 20189
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2018
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2018
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2018
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2018
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2018
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2018
Smak, Tower Hill, Bristol, August 2018
Smak, Tower Hill, Bristol, August 2018
Smak, Tower Hill, Bristol, August 2018
Smak, Tower Hill, Bristol, August 2018
Smak, Ashton Road, Bristol, September 2018
Smak, Ashton Road, Bristol, September 2018
Smak, Hepburn Road, Bristol, March 2018
Smak, Hepburn Road, Bristol, March 2018
Smak, Moon Street, Bristol, March 2018
Smak, Moon Street, Bristol, March 2018
Sled One and Smak, Moon Street, Bristol, April 2016
Sled One and Smak, Moon Street, Bristol, April 2016
Smak, Raleigh Road, Bristol, January 2018
Smak, Raleigh Road, Bristol, January 2018
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2018
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2018
Smak, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, October 2017
Smak, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, October 2017
Smak, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Smak, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Smak, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Smak, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2016
Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2016
Smak, The Bearpit, Bristol, June 2017
Smak, The Bearpit, Bristol, June 2017

2264. M32 roundabout J3 (146)

I don’t know what I expected Elvs to look like before I met him but somehow it wasn’t what I saw. Maybe it was that he was much younger than I thought, but then isn’t everyone these days? I have been an admirer of Elvs’ work for a few years now, so it was great to catch him midway through doing a piece.

Elvs, M32 roundabout, Bristol, May 2019
Elvs, M32 roundabout, Bristol, May 2019

His work is so distinctive and intricate and appears to follow a general formula, the repetition of which, by his own admission, becomes recognisable as his work. I guess if you have done enough of these things you begin to master every curve and shadow and he seems to turn out perfect pieces every time. He didn’t seem to mind me chatting for a little while… it must be quite irritating having people asking inane questions, but if he was irritated he didn’t show it. Another great piece of graffiti writing from Elvs.

2262. Dean Lane skate park (219)

This is a rather nice burner from an artist we tend to associate with bunny rabbits, but whose work is in fact broad and varied, Nevergiveup. There is an awful lot to like about this carefully put together piece, which spells out ZBOK, which I believe means deviant (or something of that nature) in Polish. The beautiful deep red background frames the extraordinary interior filling that displays wonderful technique with sharp patterning of the letters.

Nevergiveup, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2019
Nevergiveup, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2019

Nevergiveup tends to sign these pieces NGU although he has several different aliases which he uses on his Instagram accounts, such as @followmyrabbits or @zbok_ngu or @ngufam_vandals. This is a nice tidy example ofhis versatility.