6510. M32 roundabout J3 (636)

Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024

It is easy to become complacent, living in Bristol, when it comes to street and graffiti, and to take it for granted that we have something rather special, that most cities in the country or the world, simply don’t have. The graffiti sub-culture is thriving and grows both local talent and attracts artists form far and wide to get out there and paint walls. Artists like Smak, who are at the top of their game, are not a rarity, but common, such is the strength and depth of the field of artists.

Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024
Smak, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024

This is a beautiful combination piece of outstanding writing accompanied by a comedy cartoon skull wearing a graffiti crown. The letters, which are easy to pick out, are beautifully proportioned and designed, and painted in prime colours, which you don’t see all that often. A wonderful piece from a gifted artist.

6509. Cumberland Basin

Kid Krishna, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2024
Kid Krishna, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2024

Like many artists, Kid Krishna goes through phases of low and high activity, and recently we have been enjoying one of his productive periods, with a plethora of his pieces in various styles in all parts of the city. This colourful piece is painted on the long wall at Cumberland Basin.

Kid Krishna, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2024
Kid Krishna, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2024

The letters, as always, spell CRIE, not that you’d necessarily work that out without help. The turquoise letters stand out well against the black, pink and yellow colours of thee background. There is something quite strongly anti-style about this one and a little bit of attitude too. The slightly untidy finishing would indicate that it was probably a quick one, painted in the moment, because when you are as good as Kid Krishna, you simply can.

6508. Greenbank (138)

Nice One, Greenbank, Bristol, October 2024
Nice One, Greenbank, Bristol, October 2024

I recently met Nice One for the first time, although he said that we had met before (I think that must have been before he was painting as Nice One), which I felt a bit bad about, because I like to try and remember these things. We had a great chat about all sorts of things, and I was able to tell him how much I was enjoying his work, and the superb way he combines his writing with characters and scenes – this piece being a perfect example of what I mean.

Nice One, Greenbank, Bristol, October 2024
Nice One, Greenbank, Bristol, October 2024

This piece wouldn’t look out of place in a gallery, but here it is for the citizens of Bristol to enjoy. The concept is beautifully executed, a landscape with moody clouds above a tree-lined lake, and the letters, in Times New Roman font emerging like monoliths from the horizon. This is a fascinating piece that demonstrates Nice One’s modest talent. One of the most memorable pieces of the year in my view.

6505. Peel Street Green (35)

Sub, Peel Street Green, Bristol, October 2024
Sub, Peel Street Green, Bristol, October 2024

The wall at Peel Street Green is naturally broken into sections and each one is quite large, offering lots of space for artists to show off their work. I think that this presents SUB with a bit of a problem, because his letters, only three of them, end up being so large, and it becomes difficult to keep the fills interesting.

Sub, Peel Street Green, Bristol, October 2024
Sub, Peel Street Green, Bristol, October 2024

Sub writes with large letters that he typically fills with single or multiple horizontal fills. He is still developing his style, and is improving from piece to piece, but I think that to lift his work to the next level he might think about how he treats his fills, or perhaps varies his letter shapes. Having said that, I admire anyone with talent and determination getting out there and decorating walls, Sub included.

6503. Lower Approach Road (14)

Sled One, Lower Approach Road, Bristol, October 2024
Sled One, Lower Approach Road, Bristol, October 2024

This piece of graffiti writing by Sled One greets visitors and passengers travelling through Bristol Temple Meads station. I am not too sure how long the piece has been there, but I imagine for quite a while as turnover in this spot is pretty slow.

Sled One, Lower Approach Road, Bristol, October 2024
Sled One, Lower Approach Road, Bristol, October 2024

Such is the talent of Sled One, that I imagine he ran this one off with ease straight off the top of his head, which is generally how he rolls. He has painted some nice SLED1 letters with a fill theme bleeding across all the letters and then added a deep 3D drop shadow (which itself has a further shadow) in contrasting red orange and yellow vertical stripes. A fine piece from a brilliant writer.

6500. Dean Lane skate park (744)

Astrea (HNH), Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2024
Astrea (HNH), Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2024

Astrea, formerly known as HNH, first came on to my radar at the Muriel Alleyway mini street art festival earlier this year where she decorated a garage shutter with her striking and unusual style. Astrea’s designs are intricate and hint at letters, although it is the overall effect that is king. In this piece, you can make out the letters HNH.

Astrea (HNH), Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2024
Astrea (HNH), Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2024

I am very much enjoying seeing her work popping up around the place, but sadly have missed the boat on two pieces, one under the M32 and the other in Peel Street Green, where I arrived a day too late, which was gutting. This modest black and white piece is painted on one of the skate ramps and makes a statement albeit quietly.

6499. M32 Cycle path (276)

Disfrutalafrutaaa, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, October 2024
Disfrutalafrutaaa, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, October 2024

This wonderful piece by Disfrutalafrutaaa, which is a first from the artist on Natural Adventures, was painted alongside Claro_que_sssnoh, and I am making the assumption that the artist is likely to be Spanish. Certainly the rather long and complicated moniker would point in that direction.

Disfrutalafrutaaa, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, October 2024
Disfrutalafrutaaa, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, October 2024

The piece itself is a beautifully presented blue script squiggle of letters which I can’t make out set on a red and orange spotty background that has a slightly psychedelic feel to it. The piece is really pleasing on the eye, but because I am unfamiliar with the artist, I can’t really say whether it is typical or not. It is always great to welcome new talent to Bristol.

6497. St Werburghs tunnel (455)

Hypo, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2024
Hypo, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2024

My mood is low today with the news that it is looking likely Donald Trump has won the election in America. One wonders just how this can happen. From this side of the pond, it does not reflect well on the slim majority of Americans who favour a narcissistic bigot and his right wing policies (actually does he have any, or simply make it up as he goes along?). Having said that, we have made the same mistakes in the UK over the last 14 years, and by God are we paying for it now. I am reminded of this rather unpleasant piece of street art from several years ago in which a pair of narcissists kiss – little did we know (although we suspected it) how destructive this pair of liars would be.

Felix Braun, Donald and Boris, Stokes Croft, Bristol, 23 May 2016
Felix Braun, Donald and Boris, Stokes Croft, Bristol, 23 May 2016

I think that it is fair to say that Hypo appears to be smashing it every week at the moment, and I have to say I am enjoying the ride. All the time he is developing his style and adding new ideas, pushing the envelope constantly.

Hypo, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2024
Hypo, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2024

This is a clean piece, not as energetic as some of Hypo’s recent works, but it is nicely designed with simple colours and a solid fill. The deep 3D drop shadow drifts into a central vanishing point which works well. Hypo seems to be enjoying his ‘icicles’ at the moment, which adds a little extra interest to his border. Nice work.

Wispa

A gallery of outstanding graffiti writing and character combination pieces by Wispa.

Instagram: @willow_the_wispa

All photographs by Scooj

Wispa, St Werburghs, Bristol, June 2025
Wispa, St Werburghs, Bristol, June 2025
Wispa, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, January 2025
Wispa, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, January 2025
Wispa, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2024
Wispa, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2024
Wispa, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2024
Wispa, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2024

 

Wispa, Cheltenham Paint Festival, Cheltenham, July 2023
Wispa, Cheltenham Paint Festival, Cheltenham, July 2023

 

Wispa, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, February 2024
Wispa, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, February 2024

 

Wispa, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, February 2024
Wispa, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, February 2024

 

Wispa, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2023
Wispa, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2023

 

Wispa, M32 Spot, Bristol, October 2023
Wispa, M32 Spot, Bristol, October 2023

 

Wispa, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, October 2023
Wispa, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, October 2023

 

Bnie and Wispa, Cheltenham Paint Festival, Cheltenham, July 2023
Bnie and Wispa, Cheltenham Paint Festival, Cheltenham, July 2023

 

Wispa, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, October 2023
Wispa, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, October 2023

 

Wispa, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, July 2023
Wispa, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, July 2023

 

Wispa, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, July 2023
Wispa, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, July 2023

 

Wispa, Frome Side, Bristol, May 2023
Wispa, Frome Side, Bristol, May 2023

 

Wispa, Greenbank, Bristol, April 2023
Wispa, Greenbank, Bristol, April 2023

 

Wispa, Elton Street, Bristol, April 2023
Wispa, Elton Street, Bristol, April 2023

 

Wispa, Brunel Way, Bristol, March 2023
Wispa, Brunel Way, Bristol, March 2023

 

Wispa, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2022
Wispa, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2022

 

Wispa, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2022
Wispa, St Werburghs, Bristol, December 2022

6496. M32 roundabout J2 (7)

Lupa, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, October 2024
Lupa, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, October 2024

I am a fan of Lupa’s work, and although it can be a little rough around the edges, it feels authentic, honest and unpretentious. As ever, with her work, there is a lot of joy and personality about the presentation of her letters, which are characterful and animated with simple faces. The bright colours are not blended, but simply blasted onto the wall, which adds to the genuine nature of Lupa’s work.

Lupa, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, October 2024
Lupa, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, October 2024

This piece is in one of the tunnels of the much underused Junction 2 roundabout, where turnover is far lower than one might expect. There is a lot of wall space here, which gives me comfort, because as the city becomes more and more gentrified, some of the ‘traditional’ walls and hoardings are rapidly disappearing. Lupa has used the space well.