6534. Ikea Wall of Fame (1)

Zaki Dee, Nicer, Fade and BG183, Ikea wall of fame, Bristol, October 2024
Zaki Dee, Nicer, Fade and BG183, Ikea wall of fame, Bristol, October 2024

Something big happened in Bristol over 17-20 October in the Ikea car park, just off junction 2 of the M32. Goldie, a British music producer and DJ who is also an accomplished graffiti writer and whose work has appeared in Natural Adventures several times, organised an international paint jam to celebrate the 30th anniversary of his record label Metalheadz. In doing so, he invited artists from the New York-based Tats Cru to join a selection of Bristol artists, and some others from the UK and beyond.

The challenge was to paint a themed collaboration – the yellow brick road from The Wizard of Oz (more on this another time) on this enormous wall. In doing so a new wall of fame was created, and one which I hope will host further such productions. This is the first in a series of photographs from the wall, starting at the left-hand end.

Zaki Dee, Nicer, Fade and BG183, Ikea wall of fame, Bristol, October 2024
Zaki Dee, Nicer, Fade and BG183, Ikea wall of fame, Bristol, October 2024

In this first section, The writing is from Fade, who is no stranger to Natural Adventures, and he is accompanied by the rather gory witch character by Nicer, some floral decoration, running through the entire production, by Zaki Dee and a section of New York skyline by BG183.

I will be posting more from this incredible paint jam in due course, and hope to provide some sense of scale of the production.

6533. Cumberland Basin

Neddy Ned Neddy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2024
Neddy Ned Neddy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2024

Neddy Ned Neddy is one of those artists who paints from time to time in Bristol, but never enough to grace the pages of Natural Adventures all that often. It is always a pleasure to include his work, though, because his writing style is quite special and beautifully executed.

Neddy Ned Neddy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2024
Neddy Ned Neddy, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2024

In most of his pieces, the vanishing point for his drop shadow is located centrally behind the letters, which gives the illusion that they are hurtling towards you from the background. The flaming colour selection works well against the blue, and this is an all-round stonking burner.

6531. Sparke Evans Park (103)

Grimes, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, November 2024
Grimes, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, November 2024

This is yet another colourful outburst of joy and movement from Grimes, and a piece to enjoy and savour. Grimes has been smashing it with every piece he paints, and Bristol spots are without a doubt more colourful places when one of his pieces is present.

Grimes, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, November 2024
Grimes, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, November 2024

The three dimensional effect that Grimes creates in his work is outstanding, and this whole thing has the appearance of bursting out from the wall towards the viewer. Such is the energy in the piece it almost feels like an animation. The ‘fruit salad’ colours are beautifully distributed throughout the writing (Spelling GRIMES), and are set on a watery blue background, which is also full of swirling movement. In my eyes, this is a masterpiece of wildstyle writing.

6529. Cumberland Basin

Oust, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2024
Oust, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2024

It’s a funny thing, but I don’t know whether I simply haven’t registered Oust much in the past, or whether he is painting a little bit more often in Bristol, but I seem to be finding more Oust work about town these days.

Oust, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2024
Oust, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2024

This is a superb piece of writing, with all elements working well in harmony, although I think that the light blue of the letters is slightly washed out by some of the stronger colours around it. Obviously, the letters spell OUST and they have been filled with loads of patterning and symbols, mostly stars. There is a complex drop shadow in black and yellow and a busy red background. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from Oust.

6528. M32 roundabout J3 (639)

Zeks, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024
Zeks, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024

There is a simplicity and clarity in Zeks’ work, where less is definitely more. His child-like quality and themes work so very well. The autumn leaves in front of the piece complement the ‘blue sky’ background, so well, conjuring up visions of gorgeous autumn days.

Zeks, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024
Zeks, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024

The combination piece is split into distinct halves, with a beautifully illustrated urban landscape to the left (looking like one of those 1960-70s cartoon series), which is so full of character. The writing in contrasting and bright colours spells out ZEKS, and is filled with interesting but unfussy shapes and designs. This is a delightful and calming piece from Zeks.

6527. Dean Lane skate park (778)

Nice One, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2024
Nice One, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2024

This is a fabulous Halloween combination piece from Nice One, and one of a series of outstanding artworks from this most modest of artists. I think that the font he uses contrasts so well with all around it, creating a fresh look in amongst all the styles and fonts we get used to.

Nice One, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2024
Nice One, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2024

The portrait of the Joker is brilliantly reproduced and suitably menacing, perfect for Halloween. I love the way that Nice One has only hinted at his letters, with most of them obscured or falling outside the frame. There is simply so much to enjoy from Nice One’s work at the moment… long may it last.

6526. River Avon (67)

Kid Krishna, River Avon, Bristol, November 2024
Kid Krishna, River Avon, Bristol, November 2024

Completely unplanned I appear to have posted two chrome pieces in a row, from two artists that are known for the colourful work, Nips yesterday and Kid Krishna today. I’m not sure I have seen an entirely chrome and black piece from Kid Krishna before, but I like what I see, and it appears to have worked really well.

Kid Krishna, River Avon, Bristol, November 2024
Kid Krishna, River Avon, Bristol, November 2024

The letters, as always spell out CRIE, and having spoken to Kid Krishna recently, we will soon know why he uses these letters. In the middle of this combination piece is a crazy cartoon character bursting out and looking rather sketch-like. A fun two-tone piece.

6525. M32 Cycle path (277)

Nips, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, October 2024
Nips, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, October 2024

Nips is known for her wonderful colour selections and fill patterns and with this chrome piece on the cycle path, the question is could she carry it off with such colour limitations, the answer is unequivocally yes.

Nips, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, October 2024
Nips, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, October 2024

Nips’ letters do not change an awful lot from piece to piece, but her decorative artwork does, and here she has made the most of a simple fill pattern of black blobs. The overall effect works very well. Normally you’d expect the tittle (a word I learned last night, meaning the dot above the i or j) in Nips’ pieces to have a little character face, but here she has substituted it with a heart. Great work from Nips.

6524. Brunel Way (301)

Fade (Jody and Acer One)) and Dibz, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2024
Fade (Jody and Acer One)) and Dibz, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2024

This is a wonderful production wrap-around Halloween piece from Dibz and Fade. In fact this is the second time that the pair have bookended their former tribute collaboration with Jody and Acer One, to musician and DJ Randall. The central portrait by Jody and letters from Acer One have remained intact each time.

Fade, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2024
Fade and Jody, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2024

To the left Fade has painted a wonderful combination piece, along with Jody, with the letters FDE either side of a creepy pumpkin character. The purple, black and green colours together with the pumpkin orange are commonly used in Halloween pieces.

Fade, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2024
Jody, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2024

The pumpkin is super-fierce and beautifully painted by Jody (thank you Paul H for your unflinching reminders that I completely missed this) with the light overflowing from the lantern and spilling onto the floor and spelling out the crew letters THK. Clever stuff.

Dibz, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2024
Dibz, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2024

To the right, Dibz has similarly created a combination piece, but his character is a cartoon-style Grim Reaper, altogether less threatening than his pumpkin partner. The letters offer up wildstyle writing at its best, and contrasts somewhat with the comic character, but as ever, Dibz gets the two to work well together.

Dibz, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2024
Dibz, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2024

Overall a superb seasonal augmentation of an existing collaboration.

6522. M32 roundabout J3 (638)

Mr Draws, M32 roundabout, Bristol, November 2024
Mr Draws, M32 roundabout, Bristol, November 2024

By the time this post is published I’ll be somewhere between Bristol and Leeds, on our way to visit our daughter who is in her first term at university there. The upshot of this is that I wrote this post last night after work, a little tired and not particularly inspired. Basically I am making excuses for a waffling post.

Mr Draws, M32 roundabout, Bristol, November 2024
Mr Draws, M32 roundabout, Bristol, November 2024

Mr Draws represents the constant beating heart of Bristol graffiti writing. I have said it many times and my view hasn’t changed. Regular and dependable. This set of fused DRAWS letters in dark blues has a devilish theme running through it with horns and an inverted cross. I wonder what is going on here. I might need to have words with Mr Draws.