Writer – Page 89 – Natural adventures

6199. Cumberland Basin

Dirtygypo, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, July 2024

There are basically three kinds of ‘new’ artist in Bristol (or any other city I might suppose); those who are hitting walls for the first time having practiced or expanding beyond their art studios; those who are already established artists who move to Bristol or nearby and start painting; and those established artists who are simply visiting or passing through the city and drop a piece or two, because they can.

It turns out that Dirtygypo has been writing in Bristol for at least a couple of years but has only just appeared on my radar. I guess I will have to rifle through my archives to see if I have earlier photographs of his work. Perhaps he has been hitting some of the more popular spots, or his pieces are lasting longer, whatever the reason, he has become more established recently. His work is exciting, colourful and busy, with irregular letters each filled and decorated differently. I am not sure what the letters spell, but I really rather like the frenetic appearance. Watch this space for more from Dirtygypo.

6198. Greenbank (125)

There is no doubt about it, I am really enjoying the fresh look of Zeks’ pieces combined with the fact that he is painting in Bristol a little more often these days, and long may that last. This is a straightforward piece of graffiti writing, with clearly defined letters and simple design – incorporating a little symmetry with the ‘Z’ and ‘S’.

I can’t put my finger on it, but there is something quite unique about Zeks’ writing. There is a modesty and uncomplicatedness, an authenticity, which really attracts me. Simple solid fills are accompanied by a striped pattern filling the letter gaps. A couple of arrows and some rings accessorise the letters a little, but none of it would work very well without the cream background. This is a great composition.

6197. Dean Lane skate park (731)

I expect that this piece, like most of his writing, was freestyled by Sled One. What I mean by that is that he most likely painted it straight off the top of his head, without a sketch in a black book, or anything like that. To be able to do that suggests not only confidence but also incredible talent.

Sled One has written SLED, with each letter being defined by a different colour/pattern regime, helping to pick them out. There are so many details and points of interest, but two that stand out are the barbed wire at the base of the ‘L’ and the downward facing arrow between the ‘E’ and ‘D’. All of these details combine to create a superb piece of wildstyle graffiti writing.

6196. Leicester

I have visited Leicester a couple of times recently, once in May and again earlier this week. On both occasions I have managed to snap a few outstanding pieces, largely, but not exclusively, from the ‘Bring the Paint’ festival. As many of you will know, I struggle just to keep up with new pieces in Bristol, let alone street art that I see on my travels, so I am grouping a few pieces together. These were photographed in May 2024.

This is an extraordinary anamorphic piece by Juandres Vera – really eye-catching, although a little awkward to photograph – it was behind a gate.

This is an enormous mural by Does, and I am guessing that the writing spells out DOES.

I have heard and seen quite a lot about Gent 48, but I think that this might be the first piece I have actually seen by the artist. Utterly outstanding.

Nuno Viegas has visited Bristol before for Upfest, so it was great to see this unbelievable piece combining two-dimensional bubble writing with an amazing 3D hand and spray can. Great reflections on the chrome can and shadows cast by it.

More collections from Leicester to come in due course.

6195. Upfest 2024 (40)

Tozer signs, Upfest 2024, North Street, Bristol, May 2024

Anyone who spends time on Bedminster’s North Street will have consciously or unconsciously seen signs in the area by Bristol-based sign writer, Tozer signs.this is a beautifully designed and executed street sign welcoming visitors to North Street.

There is a huge amount of skill and experience that has gone into producing this large sign that more than equals even the best graffiti writing in the city… the only real difference is the discipline and accuracy that a sign writer must work to in order to have any credibility at all. Tozer signs delivers in bucket-loads with this piece. The block letters spelling out NORTH STREET, have great uniformity and depth, and show off the talent of a brilliant craftswoman. Regrettably this piece was dogger not long after the Upfest festival ended. There are way too many idiots in our midst, but I guess anyone who created art on the streets knows the risks and likely limitations on longevity. Beautiful work from Tozer signs.

6194. Upfest 2024 (39)

Wrdsmth, Upfest 2024, North Street, Bristol, May 2024

I am aware of Wrdsmth’s work, mainly from my trips to some of London’s great graffiti/street art spots like Shoreditch and Camden Town, but I don’t think I have seen anything by the artist on this scale before. It is a privilege for the artist to secure this wall that has had some significant masterpieces on it before, in particular a stunner from Liam Bononi back in 2021.

From the little I know about Wrdsmth, he usually follows the same format with a typewriter and some wise words issuing forth from it. Here, the words say “Aspire to inspire others and the universe will take note”. I am not so sure about this confident assertion, but admire its trust in human nature. It was great to have Wrdsmth visit Bristol for Upfest, and it would be great to have the artist return sometime.

6191. Upfest 2024 (36)

Inkie, Upfest 2024, Gathorne Road, Bristol, May 2024

Inkie is probably Bristol’s best known street artist, alongside Banksy (of course) and Nick Walker, and unlike the others, he still regularly paints in Bristol. It is pretty much a given that Inkie will be invited to Upfest to paint a significant wall, and for at least the second time he has painted the side of Parson’s Bakery on North Street.

‘Use your loaf” is the slogan Inkie has chosen for this classic piece with his very special writing and stylised portrait of a girl with long flowing hair. I don’t know if the colloquialism is one known outside the UK, but in this instance ‘loaf’ means brain or head… a bit like the phrase ‘use your noodle’… same thing. A clever slogan for a bakery. Wonderful stuff from Inkie.

Inkie, Gathorne Road, Bristol, July 2019

Inkie, Gathorne Road, Bristol, June 2016

6189. Brunel Way (278)

Sage is an artist who emerges every once in a while in Bristol, and could never be described as prolific, indeed he has been rather quiet for some time now, so is was great to see this piece, which was part of a larger collaborative paint a week or two back.

I know that I have several of his pieces in my archives that for some inexplicable reason I have never published. He is a talented writer, and for a while dotted the streets of Bristol with his capped character mega tag. This writing has a bit of a retro-psychedelia feel to it and is accompanied by a couple of interesting characters on the right. This is a classy piece, and I rather hope it might indicate increased activity from Sage.

6188. M32 roundabout J3 (599)

Face 1st and Zake, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2024

It looks like Face 1st and Zake have an insatiable appetite for painting at the moment, and they are teaming up, with or without the rest of PWA friends to get out there and decorate our walls. This time the pair have chosen the M32 roundabout to express themselves.

Face 1st, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2024

Face 1st continues to work on his 3D blocky letters, which in fairness he has been tinkering with for a few years, but seems to be really concentrating on them at the moment. This is a familiar format, where he spells out FACE with the letter ‘A’ being replaced with a laughing girl.

Zake, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2024

Zake has been creating some rather zany and at times mildly disturbing cartoon portrait pieces lately, and this one fits that description quite neatly. Whenever I see a heart in street art, I read it as meaning one of two things – love, or heart break. It is possible in this instance that it is neither and might be illustrating the tussle between heart and mind. The character has been cleaved in two, which makes for not the most attractive sight. All in all a nice collaboration from the busy pair.

6186. Cumberland Basin

Noise and Sait Bare, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, July 2024

I have to say that this was not a collaboration that I was expecting, but that is the joy of documenting street and graffiti art in this fine city. Noise has collaborated with several different artists in Bristol, so why not collaborate with Sait Bare? The two artists have gone for a colour coordinated theme that carries through both of their graffiti writing.

Noise has painted the left hand side with his chunky NOISE letters, and Sait Bare has written BARE in his slightly unruly style – together they compliment each other perfectly. I would guess that the character in the middle was probably a combined effort, but without asking them I can’t be certain. This is a very nicely produced collaboration and great surprise.

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