Friday 20 December 2019

An Urban Sketchers year in review - We drew London in 2019

Best wishes from Urban Sketchers London 
for a celebratory end of the year!

The skating rink at the Natural History Museum by James Hobbs    December 2019
With many thanks to Jo Dungey and Lis Watkins for leading us through another outstanding year.


Didn't we do well in 2019?

Thank you organisers one and all for making it happen

January 2019 Barbican Centre
Organisers Cathryn Worrell and Gafung Wong


February 2019 RAF Museum in Hendon
Organisers John Webb and Philip Stones

March 2019 Spitalfields
Organisers Nicky Browne and Helen Hayhoe

April 2019 Croydon
Organisers Lis Watkins and Jo Dungey

May 2019 Dulwich Village
Organisers Jo Dungey and Rachel Bone

June 2019 Richmond
Organisers Helen Hayhoe and John Swanson

A summer evening 19 June 2019  Southbank Centre
Organisers Jo Dungey and Zane Karklina

July 2019 Regent's Park
Organisers Steven Baker and Elwyn Edwards

A summer evening 'drink and draw' 12 July 2019 Royal Festival Hall
Organiser Lis Watkins


A summer evening 17 July 2019 Victoria Embankment Gardens
Organisers John Webb and Gafung Wong

August 2019 Greenwich and Island Gardens
Organisers Olga Mackness and Mike Whalley

A summer evening 7 August 2019 Tower Bridge
Organisers Lis Watkins and Jo Dungey

September 2019 Trinity Buoy Wharf
Organisers Jo Dungey and Gafung Wong
October 2019 City of London
Organisers Olga Mackness and Katy Evans

November 2019 British Library
Organisers Lis Watkins and Sangeeta Bhagawati

December 2019 Natural History Museum
Organisers Nicky Browne and Elizabeth Blunt


Best wishes from Urban Sketchers London

Let's Draw London in 2020!





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Monday 16 December 2019

Let's draw the Wallace Collection - Saturday 15 February 2020


We visit the Wallace Collection, a free public art collection in Manchester Square north of Oxford Street.  The building, Hertford House, provides the focal point of this eighteenth century garden square. Each room in this eclectic museum is distinctively different. It houses treasures that include arms and armour, furniture, glassware and ceramics. Other interesting buildings in the area include St James RC Church, and the Chiltern Firehouse. 

The day is free of charge, no need to book, just turn up with your art kit.  

The Wallace Collection ask that drawing should be done with the following dry materials only: pencils, coloured pencils and graphite sticks.


Wallace Collection (exterior) at the head of the post, by Sasala Wickramasinghe, and Wallace Collection (interior) above, by Nicky Browne.

Key times and meeting points for the day:

11 am: Meet inside the Wallace Collection building in Porphyry Court on the lower ground floor.  Please ensure your art kit does not include sharp tools such as scissors or craft knives.  Allow time to check in bulky coats and bags in the cloakroom. 

A floorplan of the Wallace Collection can be downloaded from their website.

1 pm: Meet again at the Porphyry Court to look at drawings done so far.

3.30 pm: Meet again at the Porphyry Court.  We will look at drawings done, and take group photographs either there or nearby, depending how crowded it is.


Options for drawing:

The Wallace Collection is housed in Hertford House in Manchester Square W1. It was built as a family house for the Marquesses of Hertford. The last owner bequeathed it on condition that the collection would stay intact; no items in the collection could be sold or loaned.

It is a large collection of decorative arts, old masters, arms and armour collected in 30 galleries. The fall of the French monarchy enabled the family to buy many significant treasures of many sorts including porcelain. There are several well known works of art in the collection: Franz Hals' Laughing Cavalier is one surprise. Another is Fragonard's Girl on a Swing.

The State Rooms have been restored to their near original décor. The open courtyard is now a roofed coffee bar and restaurant, called Cafe Bagatelle after one of the Marquises’ Chateau Bagatelle (shown above, sketch by Sasala Wickramasinghe).

There is a free tour of highlights of the collection at 2.30 pm.


Immediately behind the Wallace Collection, in Spanish Place, is the Neo-Gothic St James RC Church (photograph above). Designed by Edward Goldie, completed in 1890, we are welcome to draw the complex and stunning interior.


Weather permitting, nearby Chiltern Street has the extraordinary Manchester Square Fire Station designed by Robert Pearsall and completed in 1889 (photograph above, drawing below, by Nicky Browne).  Known now as The Chiltern Firehouse, it is a luxury hotel and restaurant. As there is a waiting list for the waiting list, don't expect to pop in for lunch.  The Chiltern Firehouse is too closely furnished and busy to be an interior drawing option, but the outside is stunning.


Practical information:

The Wallace Collection is at Hertford House, Manchester Square, London W1U 3BN.  It is a national museum with free admission to the permanent collection.  The opening hours are 10 am to 5 pm.   There is a cloakroom, café, toilets and a shop.  The Wallace Collection website is informative.  Manchester Square is located near Oxford Street and the nearest station is Bond Street. Also close are Marble Arch or Baker Street.

There are several cafes, interesting pubs and independent shops nearby.  It is also close to the busy local shopping street: Marylebone High Street.

This day is run by Nicky Browne and Sasala Wickramasinghe, sketches and photographs are also by them.




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Saturday 14 December 2019

We drew at the Natural History Museum - December 2019

(Jo Dungey writes) We met to draw at London's Natural History Museum on Saturday 14 December 2019. I always find it fascinating the different subjects people choose, although meeting at the same location. Some people tackled the ornate Victorian building,  including the dramatic Hintze Hall, which now has the vast skeleton of a Blue Whale installed. Others drew exhibits including animals, birds, skeletons, rocks and minerals. A few braved the outdoors, and sketched the exterior of the museum and the ice skaters outside.

This is our last meet-up of 2019. I hope everyone has enjoyed sketching with our group. Our new year programme starts at Tate Modern on Saturday 11 January 2020.



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Friday 22 November 2019

Let's draw at Tate Modern - Saturday 11 January 2020


Join us as we start the year with a visit to Tate Modern.  This gallery of international modern and contemporary art is housed in the former Bankside Power Station next to the River Thames in central London.  In the Turbine Hall, a major new sculpture by Kara Walker, Fons Americanus, provides a challenge to London’s more traditional monuments.  As well as the art works and gallery visitors, there are interesting interiors and views of the surrounding area to sketch.

The day is free of charge, no need to book, just turn up with your art kit.

Safety: Please be mindful of the safety of yourself, other sketchers and passers-by.  Be careful about your possessions when you are sketching and in crowded places.


Key times and meeting points for the day:

11am: Meet just inside the Turbine Hall entrance (see photograph above).  Expect a bag search at the entrance, and ensure your art kit does not include sharp tools such as scissors or craft knives.

1pm: Meet at the Level One bridge (photograph below), which crosses above the Turbine Hall, to look at drawings done so far.

3.30pm: Meet again at the Level One bridge to look at drawings done.  We will take group photographs either here or down a level near the Turbine Hall sculpture, depending how crowded it is.


We could then go for drinks to the Terrace Bar at Level One of the Blavatnik Building, or another nearby bar/café.

There is information about Tate Modern on their website.   


Options for drawing:

Tate Modern opened in 2000, a conversion of the Bankside Power Station by Swiss architects Hertzog and De Meuron.  The huge Turbine Hall currently has sculpture by USA artist Kara Walker (above), whose work explores historic links between Africa, Europe and America, including the impact of the transatlantic slave trade.


Opened more recently, the Blavatnik Building (above) has extended the exhibition space, built over The Tanks, display galleries which use the former power station oil tanks.  There are interesting public spaces in all areas of the building.



The collection of international art is from 1900 to the present day.  The Blavatnik Building has a focus on post-1960 art.

There are many opportunities for people sketching, inside and outside the gallery.


There are views of the surrounding area from the windows of Tate Modern, including the cafes.  For those prepared to brave the winter weather, there are views across the river to St Paul’s Cathedral and the modern City of London.  Sights near Tate Modern include the Globe Theatre, and many contemporary buildings.
  

Practical information

Tate Modern is on Bankside.  The nearest underground stations are Southwark (Jubilee Line) and Blackfriars (main line rail, District and Circle underground).  Admission to the gallery is free of charge, other than for special exhibitions.  On Saturdays it is open from 10 am to 10 pm. Tate has restrictions on the use of wet painting media inside the building.  There are toilets, a cloakroom, and lockers.  The gallery has cafes and bars, and there are other cafes and restaurants by the river, and food shops south of Tate Modern around Southwark Street.

This day is run by Jo Dungey and Gafung Wong, sketches and photographs are by Jo and Gafung.



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Thursday 7 November 2019

Let's draw London in 2020: PROGRAMME SUSPENDED



Draw London with us in 2020: This programme of sketching is suspended, given the coronavirus pandemic. 

The sketch of Pitzhanger Manor (above) is by Lis Watkins

Saturday 11 January 2020

We start the new year with a visit to Tate Modern. The collection of international modern and contemporary art is housed in the former Bankside Power Station, redeveloped by Swiss architects Hertzog and De Meuron. These architects also created the new Blavatnik extension.  In the Turbine Hall, a major new sculpture by Kara Walker, Fons Americanus, provides a challenge to London’s more traditional monuments. As well as the art works and gallery visitors, there are interesting interiors and views of the surrounding area to sketch.

This day is run by Jo Dungey and Gafung Wong

Saturday 15 February 2020

We visit the Wallace Collection, a free public art collection in Manchester Square north of Oxford Street. The building, Hertford House, provides the focal point of this eighteenth century garden square. Each room in this eclectic museum is distinctively different. It houses treasures that include arms and armour, furniture, glassware and ceramics. The collection of paintings is also well known and include the racy Fragonard's Girl on a Swing and Franz Hals’ Laughing Cavalier. Manchester Square and nearby Chiltern Street have some other interesting buildings.

This day is run by Nicky Browne and Sasala Wickramasinghe

Saturday 14 March 2020: THIS EVENT IS CANCELLED

In March, we visit Elephant & Castle in South London. This is an area undergoing rapid development with new buildings and public areas, and a variety of old and new architecture. Parts of the area, including the dated shopping centre, are due for imminent regeneration, so this is a good opportunity to capture the place in urban sketches! Nearby ‘Mercato Metropolitano’ is a busy sheltered food court on an old industrial site and can offer shelter for inclement weather.

This day is run by Isabel Carmona and Lis Watkins

Saturday 25 April 2020: THIS EVENT IS CANCELLED

This month we are drawing in the area of Granary Square and Coal Drops Yard, an area of extensive redevelopment north of Kings Cross Station. Record an area of rapid change, with many new developments, as well as old buildings by the canal. Visit the House of Illustration. Lots of scope for people sketching as well.

This day is organised jointly with Urban Sketchers Cambridge, and run by Jo Dungey (Urban Sketchers London) with Yasemin Gyford of Urban Sketchers Cambridge

CANCELLED: Urban Sketchers International Symposium in Hong Kong 8-12 April 2020 

Saturday 9 May 2020: programme suspended

In May we are by the river Thames in west London.  Come along to Twickenham Riverside to sketch boats, birds and Rock and Roll’s Eel Pie Island. Contrast the famous Naked Ladies statuary with the quirky shops on Church Road. Plenty to enjoy, all minutes from Twickenham station.

This day is run by Helen Hayhoe and John Swanson

Saturday 6 June 2020 : programme suspended

We visit Little Venice this month: a district around the junction of the Grand Union and Regent’s Canals. The canals are lined with narrow boats and surrounded by white stucco-clad Regency houses and weeping willow trees. As a contrast, this area is also near the modern developments of Paddington Basin.

This day is run by Mike Whalley and Katy Evans


CANCELLED: Urban Sketchers UK event Leeds 12-14 June 2020

Saturday 25 July 2020: programme suspended

This month we visit Pitzhanger Manor, a large mansion, formerly the country home of architect Sir John Soane, near the town centre of Ealing. It has recently been restored and stands in gardens on the edge of Walpole Park. This offers opportunities for landscape views, people sketching and tree studies. The gardens and park are free of charge, but there is an entrance fee to look around the inside of the house and gallery.

This day is run by Zane Karklina and Lis Watkins

Saturday 8 August 2020: programme suspended

In August we explore Victorian Kensington. The area between High Street Kensington Station and the Royal Albert Hall has a wealth of well-maintained Victorian and Edwardian mansion blocks. Found both north and south of the road are extravaganzas of intricate brickwork, columns and decorative features. The Royal Albert Hall is an amazing circular building. Its enormous pinnacle was too heavy to be placed on the dome and is now sited across the road in Hyde Park. We visit when the BBC Proms are on and there will be queues of people to draw. West of the Albert Hall is the Royal College of Organists building, a decorated facade of what is now a private residence.

This day is run by Nicky Browne and Sasala Wickramasinghe

Saturday 12 September 2020: programme suspended

We visit Bloomsbury this month – an area of London which has been the home of many writers, artists and academic figures. It has famous garden squares including Russell Square, Bloomsbury Square, Bedford Square and Woburn Square with interesting monuments, some very ancient trees, and surrounded by fine houses. The area is home to the British Museum and many buildings of the University of London, including some smaller museums.    

This day is run by Jo Dungey and Sangeeta Bhagawati

Saturday 17 October 2020: programme suspended

We visit the area around St James’s Square in central London. There are picturesque streets such as Pall Mall, Carlton House Terrace and Jermyn Street, and arcades of traditional shops.  Historic buildings in this area include the Tudor Gatehouse of St James’s Palace built for Henry VIII, and Sir Christopher Wren’s St James’s Church. We are also near the Royal Academy on Piccadilly.

This day is run by John Swanson and Helen Hayhoe

Saturday 21 November 2020: programme suspended

November finds us in the Museum of London, in the City of London on the edge of the Barbican Estate. The museum’s permanent galleries (which are free of charge) explore the history of London, including Roman and medieval London, up to the present day. It will also be possible to draw from the Barbican High Walks and a remaining section of the Roman wall of London.

The day is run by Elizabeth Blunt and Rachel Bone

Saturday 12 December 2020: programme suspended

We end the year in central London, sketching in Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery. The square has famous monuments and buildings including St Martin in the Fields church. In December, Trafalgar Square has a large Christmas tree donated by the Norwegian government. After a short seasonal sketch outside, we can draw inside the world famous National Gallery, and possibly inside St Martin in the Fields.

This day is run by Katy Evans and Gafung Wong

Urban Sketchers London is an informal group of people who like to sketch on location. All participants have a role to play in the safety and wellbeing of others. When taking part in our sketching events, please be mindful of the safety of yourself, other sketchers and passers-by.  Be careful about your possessions when you are sketching and in crowded places.


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Sunday 3 November 2019

We drew the British Library - November 2019


The weather forecast of high winds & rain plus the early start of Rugby World Cup final meant I was expecting a low turnout for the November sketchcrawl at the British Library. But I was pleasantly surprised at the numbers of people who came along, including sketchers from the West Country, Midlands, Manchester and even Melbourne, Australia. Richard Aitken joined us as part of a European trip and produced this stunning ‘urban collage’ yesterday.


Thank you to Sangeeta for organising the event and being such a useful source of information on the day. A brief selection of some of the drawings made below. Do check out the USk London Facebook page for more.

All those books! Work by Alison
Work by Tessa
Helen sketching
Sangeeta's view of the terrace
Watercolour by Robert
Very atmospheric piece by Christine.
Sketchbooks by Jimmy
Final shot of the group at the end of the day. Thanks for coming!
Next month we meet at the Natural History Museum for the final sketchcrawl of 2019.



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