Tag: Writer

6960. Dean Lane spate park (819)

Mr Sensae, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2025

This wall is usually occupied by Dibz or Fade or combination of the two, so it can be refreshing to find something a little different from time to time. I don’t know an awful lot about Mr Sensae, and don’t think I have photographed any of his work before.

Mr Sensae, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2025

This writing, spelling out SENSAE certainly catches the eye with its bright colours, which the artist even acknowledges with the words ‘nice colours’ in the bottom left. Starting with a pink background and decorative spots that provide a great backdrop, the letters are filled with horizontal stripes of colour ranging from orange to blue, and decorated with loads of reversed spots and stars. A striped 3D drop shadow veers off to the right. This is a banging piece of graffiti writing.

6859. St Werburghs tunnel (489)

Kool Hand, St Werburghs, Bristol, April 2025

This piece by Kool Hand was part of a recent collaboration in the tunnel, but alas his third only lasted about 24 hours. On the upside I was fortunate enough to see it, literally moments before it was painted over by Mr Klue.

Kool Hand, St Werburghs, Bristol, April 2025

I have said it before, but Kool Hand is a bit of an unsung hero of Bristol street art. His unique blend of colour, characters and writing is a central part of the heartbeat of the Bristol scene, without which it would feel diminished. The letters KOOL and nicely presented in very Kool Hand orange, with some great solid fills and spots. The background in softer purples and blues provides a perfect counterbalance to the graffiti writing. Nice work from Kool Hand.

6857. Dean Lane skate park (818)

Turoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2025

I believe that this wonderful character piece by Turoe was painted to celebrate Soker’s birthday during a recent paint jam in the Deaner. The old-school piece is brimming with class, and references the ‘Eighties kidz’ who, alas, are no longer kids, but have come a long way and are have become the establishment/benchmark in Bristol street/graffiti art.

Turoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2025

Turoe doesn’t get out too much these days, but when he does, his work is without doubt of the highest calibre and this character with bucket hat, chain and watch, TURO belt buckle and spray can exemplify this. A little awkward to photograph, but not insurmountable with a wide angle function on my phone.

6856. Peel Street Green (39)

Astrea, Peel Street Green, Bristol, April 2025

Because I have been following and writing about Bristol street art for ten years, I have been able to watch so many artists start their adventures and develop their skills over time, and it gives me immense pleasure to witness this. One such artist is Astra, hi first come into my vision last year, when she painted a garage shutter during a mini paint festival in Muriel alleyway.

Astrea, Peel Street Green, Bristol, April 2025

This combination piece contains a dominant female character with a gun pointing out and the letters ASTRA in a bubble graffiti style. This is an interesting development phase and it is great to see her growing in confidence. I look forward to seeing more of her work this year.

6854. Cumberland basin

Weas, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2025
Weas, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2025

This year, I have become increasingly aware of pieces by Weas (@weaselmilk_) dotted about in most spots I visit. He tends to paint some rather wobbly characters, on columns or in tight spaces, but this piece of writing and characters demonstrates his wider capabilities.

Weas, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2025
Weas, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2025

The psychedelic swirl running through the letters WEAS has an interesting effect and draws the eye in… so much so that when I first saw the piece, I didn’t even notice the three characters subtlely sitting on top of the word. I think that there is a close association between the ‘alien’ characters and weed, with the one on the left enjoying a smoke. Expect a whole lot more from Weas.

6853. M32 roundabout J2 (10)

Face 1st, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, March 2025
Face 1st, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, March 2025

Since moving out of Bristol, Face 1st has lived up to his reassurance that he would be back reasonably regularly to carry on painting walls. I have noticed, however, that he has selected spots that are a little bit off the beaten track. This piece is on the junction 2 roundabout of the M32, where turnover is a little slower than other spots.

Face 1st, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, March 2025
Face 1st, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, March 2025

Face 1st has been concentrating a little on his letter styles of late, playing with new fonts and presentations. He has also taken to painting with gold paint (perhaps he put in a big order of the stuff). These lower-case letters, in pink, have nice fills and shout-outs to his PWA crew Soap, Zake and Chill. Face 1st is a firm favourite on Natural Adventures.

6849. Greenway Bush Lane (9)

Haka, Greenway Bush Lane, Bristol, March 2025
Haka, Greenway Bush Lane, Bristol, March 2025

This is simply brilliant. There really isn’t much more I can say about it. Haka has painted a superb rendition of Dr Seuss’ ‘Cat in the Hat’, driving a crazy vehicle with four ‘arms’ holding up each of the letters H A K A.

Haka, Greenway Bush Lane, Bristol, March 2025
Haka, Greenway Bush Lane, Bristol, March 2025

Haka has been incredibly faithful to the original artwork by Dr Seuss and captures everything that is so compelling about our childhood, it is a piece full of nostalgia for me and for many others I would expect. Haka’s series of children’s book characters continues to delight and upscale these wonderful images for all to enjoy. Bravo!

6848. Star and Garter (9)

Short, Star and Garter, Bristol, April 2025
Short, Star and Garter, Bristol, April 2025

There are a clutch of graffiti writers who have only recently come on to my radar. I cannot work out if they are new to Bristol or whether I have just had a blind spot, when it comes to their work. Artists such as Squire, Mage and in this instance Short.

Short, Star and Garter, Bristol, April 2025
Short, Star and Garter, Bristol, April 2025

Of course, by their nature, these graffiti writers are quite secretive, and it is difficult to find out much about them. Short has painted some nice joined up letters in lilac, with a classic striped 3D drop shadow and black border. There is nothing fancy, and the fill is relatively plain, but there is something compelling about the letter shapes. Expect more here from Short soon.

6847. Peel Street Green (38)

Cort, Peel Street Green, Bristol, April 2024
Cort, Peel Street Green, Bristol, April 2024

Cort doesn’t paint as often these days as he has done in the past, however, what he does paint tends to be pretty good. This stunning piece from the quiet artist is quick to grab the eye, with some simple shapes and colours, reaffirming the maxim that sometimes ‘less is more’.

Cort, Peel Street Green, Bristol, April 2024
Cort, Peel Street Green, Bristol, April 2024

The orange C is quite distinct from the chrome ORT, and given different treatment, creating a juxtaposition within the writing. The splash of light blue behind the letters is a clever design intervention to break up the monotony of the darker blue background. This is a nicely conceived and executed piece by Cort.

6845. Greenland Street, Liverpool

Dave Bonsai, Greenland Street, Liverpool, March 2025
Dave Bonsai, Greenland Street, Liverpool, March 2025

As I said in the previous post, it is not difficult to find cultural references to The Beatles pretty much everywhere you go in Liverpool. Street names, pubs, cafés, statues, shops and of course street art and graffiti. There is no escaping it, and indeed it is exactly what you’d expect.

Dave Bonsai, Greenland Street, Liverpool, March 2025
Dave Bonsai, Greenland Street, Liverpool, March 2025

The reference in this piece, by David Bonsai, is that the disguised letters spell out ‘all you need is love’, but how cleverly painted. The letters look like molten metal, or perhaps a splash of solder from a soldering iron, and is beautifully executed. I don’t think I have come across the artist before, but it would be nice to get him along to Upfest in Bristol some time and decorate one of our walls.