Sunday, 21 May 2023

Let's draw London -- Our Summer Lates in 2023

Sketch by Sasala Wickramasinghe

We're back again with the Summer Lates this year - our first since the beginning of the pandemic!

We will cover four iconic Central London venues in May, June, July and August.

Join us from 6pm to 8pm for each session, when we'll take advantage of the opportunity of light summer evenings to draw in Central London. All events are free, no need to book, just turn up with your art kit.

If this is your first sketchwalk with us, welcome to Urban Sketchers London!

Our summer evening sketchwalks are slightly different to our fortnightly weekend ones.

Our regular sketchwalks take place over a longer period -- 11am to 330pm -- on a Saturday or a Sunday. Each one has a leader, a meeting point at the beginning, a gathering place in the middle and another one at the end, when we ‘throw down’ our sketchbooks and pose for a group photo. Sketchwalk leaders know the area and are there to help you feel at ease and give you some ideas about what to sketch. Please note there is no tuition during the sketchwalks. We all draw what we wish, following the Urban Sketchers manifesto and sharing our drawings at the end.

We look forward to seeing you!

⚫ Wednesday 24 May - Southbank Centre

Sketch by Simone Menken

When do we meet? We will gather at 6pm and reconvene for the throwdown at 8pm.

Where will we meet? In the foyer of the Royal Festival Hall (looking out towards the river).

What will we draw? Explore the South Bank Centre roof garden, the skate park, sketch the surrounding buildings and views across the river and the people enjoying this iconic venue. We can also draw inside the Festival Hall, particularly if the weather is poor.

Where's the throwdown at the end? The foyer of the Royal Festival Hall (looking out towards the river).

Oh look, there's a bit extra! We also have the option of drawing beyond 8pm to attempt a night sketch (sunset at around 9pm) from the roof garden, or one of the upper floors of the Royal Festival Hall.

⚫ Friday 30 June - Bankside

Sketch by Sasala Wickramasinghe

When do we meet? We will gather at 6pm and reconvene for the throwdown at 8pm.

Where will we meet? At the riverside, below the chimney of the Tate Modern Gallery. (NB: The Tate Gallery itself will be closed at 6pm.) In wet conditions we will meet just beside the chimney, by the riverside entrance to the Tate (the entrance is located to the left of the chimney as you look towards the building).

What will we draw? The Globe Theatre, the Millennium Bridge, passers-by, buskers, and the boats on the river.

Where's the throwdown at the end? At the riverside, below the chimney of the Tate Modern. In wet conditions we will meet just beside the chimney, by the riverside entrance to the Tate (the entrance is located to the left of the chimney as you look towards the building).

⚫ Wednesday 26 July - Somerset House

Sketch by Olga Mackness

When do we meet? We will gather at 6pm and reconvene for the throwdown at 8pm

Where will we meet? At the Strand entrance of Somerset House, under the arches (where there is shelter in case of rain).

What will we draw? Aside from the 450 year-old Somerset house itself, sketching options include the hustle and bustle of the surrouding areas along the Strand and Aldwych. You can also find out what's on in Somerset House over the summer months.

Where's the throwdown at the end? At the Strand entrance of Somerset House, under the arches (where there is shelter in case of rain).

⚫ Friday 25 August - National Portrait Gallery and Trafalgar Square

Sketch by Gary Garaths

When do we meet? We will gather at 6pm and reconvene for the throwdown at 8pm.

Where will we meet? By the Fourth Plinth on Trafalgar Square. (In case of rain, we will meet in the sheltered area outside Waterstones bookshop across the road).

What will we draw? The newly refurbished National Portrait Gallery will be open until 9pm on Fridays. Entry is free, but do book your ticket in advance.
More sketching options in and around Trafalgar Square are the fountains, Nelson's Column, the National Gallery, views towards Westminster/Big Ben, and The Mall, including Admiralty Arch.

Where's the throwdown at the end? By the Fourth Plinth on Trafalgar Square. (In case of rain, we will meet in the sheltered area outside Waterstones bookshop across the road).

Location map

See you at the Summer Lates!

Let's draw London in 2023 -- Find our full programme here

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Tuesday, 16 May 2023

Let's draw Crystal Palace Park - Saturday 17 June or Sunday 2 July 2023

Crystal Palace Park in Autumn
Sketch by Lis Watkins

Let's draw London in 2023 - Find our full programme here

Join us on either of the dates above to sketch in Crystal Palace Park. Built in 1852 by Sir Joseph Paxton, the park is situated in South East London and home to the famous Crystal Palace Dinosaurs.

The dinosaurs were commissioned in 1852 to accompany the Crystal Palace after its move from the Great Exhibition in Hyde Park, and they were designed and sculpted by Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins. By modern standards, the sculptures are completely inaccurate, having been based on the scientific knowledge of the time, but they are fascinating to look at and even more fun to draw. They were the first ever life-sized models of extinct animals to be sculpted, and after extensive restoration they were upgraded to Grade I listed in 2007.

Dinosaurs at Crystal Palace Park
Sketch by Sarah Minty

The dinosaurs are found on the ‘Penge side’ of the park, next to the lake, but the park and its surroundings have lots of other points of interest too which we have listed below.

On the banks of Crystal Palace Lake
Sketch by Sarah Minty

The sketchwalk on 17 June will be run by Sarah Minty, and Lis Watkins will run the session on 2 July.

If this is your first sketchwalk with us, welcome to Urban Sketchers London!

Every sketchwalk has a leader, a meeting point at the beginning, a gathering place in the middle and another one at the end, when we ‘throw down’ our sketchbooks and pose for a group photo. Sketchwalk leaders know the area and are there to help you feel at ease and give you some ideas about what to sketch. Please note there is no tuition during the sketchwalks. We all draw what we wish, following the Urban Sketchers manifesto and sharing our drawings at the end.

We look forward to seeing you!

Meeting point

We will meet at the Brown and Green Life Cafe which is near the Penge Gate entrance to the park on Thicket Road (scroll down to see the location map). The nearest station is Penge West, which is a seven-minute walk away and connects to the London Overground. Penge East station is a 14 minute walk, with trains running from London Victoria. Crystal Palace Station is a 11 minute walk and has trains to London Victoria and London Bridge, as well as the London Overground.

Options for drawing

Crystal Palace Dinosaurs and lake, with the added option to sketch people in pedallos (if the boat house is open). Keep your eyes peeled for other animal sculptures amongst the trees too, including a giant sloth.

Some of the dinosaurs at Crystal Palace Park
Photo by Sarah Minty

Crystal Palace Park city farm which is open from 12pm to 3:30pm and free to the public.

Crystal Palace Bowl an outdoor stage, also known locally as the ‘rusty laptop’, where the likes of Pink Floyd and Bob Marley have performed.

The remains of the old Crystal Palace which was destroyed by a fire in 1936. There is not much left of it now, but there are some statues and sphinxes that remain.

Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, which includes an outdoor athletics stadium and volleyball courts, if drawing people in action is your thing.

Crystal Palace sunbathers
Sketch by Sarah Minty

The park is great for people sketching, and often you’ll find large gatherings of people under the trees barbecuing in the summer.

The surrounding streets of Penge have some beautiful villas, and there are the Victorian Royal Watermen’s Almhouses on the High Street.

Royal Watermen's Almshouses
Sketch by Lis Watkins

Crystal Palace also has a number of cafes and buildings that would be interesting to draw on ‘The Triangle’, if you can manage the walk up the hill, and some of the streets offer a glimpse of the city beyond.

Key times and meeting points

11am

We will meet at the Brown and Green Life Cafe near the Penge Gate entrance to the park on Thicket Road (see the location map below). The nearest station is Penge West, which is a 7 minute walk away and connects to the London Overground. Penge East station is a 14 minute walk, with trains running from London Victoria. Crystal Palace Station is a 11 minute walk through the park and is connected to London Victoria, London Bridge and the London Overground.

1pm

Meet back at the Brown and Green Life Cafe for the lunchtime throwdown and group photo by the gorilla statue (see the photo below). The cafe is a great place for lunch, and there are also some options in Penge or on Anerley Hill which leads up to Crystal Palace.

If it is raining, there is an undercover bit to the side of the cafe which will give some shelter.

Brown and Green Life Cafe

We will gather at the gorilla statue for
our throwdowns at 1pm and 3.30 pm

3:30pm

Meet at the same place for the afternoon throwdown and group photo to finish the day.

Afterwards

We suggest the Bridge House pub for a drink afterwards.

Bridge House pub
Sketch by Lis Watkins

Practical information

Food and drink and conveniences

The cafe in the park offers a selection of food and drink. There are also options on Penge High Street (10 minutes walk), on Anerley Hill leading up to Crystal Palace, or in Crystal Palace itself.

There are loos in the park next to the Visitors Centre near the lake and dinosaurs.

Public transport

The nearest station to the meet up point is Penge West, which is a 7 minute walk away and connects to the London Overground. Penge East station is a 14 minute walk with trains running from London Victoria. Crystal Palace Station is an 11 minute walk through the park and is connected to London Victoria, London Bridge and the London Overground.

The 176 bus from central London will take you all the way to Penge, get off at the Thicket Road stop.

Accessibility

The Brown and Green Life Cafe has an accessible toilet and all the locations are wheelchair-accessible. Let us know if you need any support on the day.

Covid guidance

Urban Sketchers London remains alert to national guidance about COVID-19 and its variants. Even though restrictions have been lifted, it's sensible to take all necessary precautions to keep ourselves and fellow sketchers safe throughout the event. The risk of infection for outdoor events is low, but basic guidance still applies:

Please do not attend if you feel unwell
Wear a face covering when you're close to others
Give people space
Practise good hand hygiene.

Further information

If you're new to Urban Sketchers London, have a look at Mike Whalley's brief history of the international Urban Sketchers movement.

Location map

See you at Crystal Palace Park!