Urban sketches, etchings, watercolours, pen and ink.
Oh how wonderful to be on the clifftop sketching the changing sky! That sky contained rain. It came down and made a contribution to my picture. I made a lot of sketches of rocks. Here are eight sketchbook pages in a slideshow. (It might not play on a mobile device.) The rocks on the West Continue reading "Sketching in Shetland 2026 (Part 1)"
I love boats, and the sea, and I draw pictures. So I found myself in the company of an enthusiastic group of artist-sailors, on board the Lady of Avenel, in Lerwick in Shetland, about to set off for a week s sketching and sailing. Shetland, for those who are a bit hazy about it, is a Continue reading "Sketch and Sail 2026 Shetland"
On a sunny day in April, I walked across London Fields. I had a paper bag in my hand containing a cheesy snack from E5 bakery. I ate my snack on a bench, watching the people walk past on their way to Borough Market. Then I thought I would draw some of the trees, and Continue reading "The Green Tiled House, 5 Croston Street, London Fields, E8 4PQ"
According to the cab driver sitting at one of the tables, this is the oldest, and the last to be listed . It was built in 1875, and listed in 2024 (listing ref 1488223). As I was sketching, the manager of the shelter came out and kindly brought me a cup of tea. She was very Continue reading " The Chapel Cab Drivers Shelter, Wellington Place, St John s Wood, NW8 7PE"
Continuing my series on Cab Drivers Shelters, here is the shelter on Russell Square. It was built in 1897, restored in 1987, and listed in 1988. This little building is on the North side of Russell Square, not far from the British Museum. I sketched from a convenient bench, fortified by a sandwich and cake Continue reading "Russell Square Cab Drivers Shelter, WC1"
Here is the Cab Drivers Shelter near Temple Station. There are 13 of these shelters surviving. All are now listed. This one was built in around 1900 and listed in 1987. Here s a map from the Historic England site showing the location of all the shelters in London. interestingly they are all to the North Continue reading "Temple Place Cabdrivers shelter, WC2"
The waitress in the Paris café was tolerant. My painting things were all over the table. I d finished my meal some time ago. But she did not hurry me away. I was travelling by train, arriving many hours later in Geneva. Trains from Geneva to Lausanne were disrupted because Swiss football supporters had, I learned Continue reading "Postcards from Paris and Switzerland, February 2026"
On a perfect day in Provence, I leaned against a wall and sketched a view of Le Thoronet. I loved this place because of its mathematical precision. As I sketched, I noticed that the tower is an isosceles triangle on top of a square. The windows are semicircles on top of rectangles. Some of the Continue reading "Le Thoronet Abbey, Var, Provence, 83340 France"
I saw this group of Mediterranean-style buildings on a long peregrination around East London. I went back to have a closer look. This is the Donnybrook Quarter which stands on a corner of Parnell Road, in Tower Hamlets. I arrived just as the sun was setting. The Donnybrook Quarter was completed ready for occupation in Continue reading "Donnybrook Quarter, Old Ford, Tower Hamlets, London E3"
On a very cold day in January I stopped for lunch in Leila s shop in Calvert Avenue. My table at the window offered a view along a tangent of Arnold Circus. I enjoyed all the lines and curves, and the hundreds of notices stuck to the lamppost, and the trees in boxes, and the transitional Continue reading "Arnold Circus from Leila s shop, Calvert Avenue, E2"