Let's draw the British Library - Saturday 2nd November

Drawing by Sangeeta Bhagawati

Join us in November to sketch the British Library and the Francis Crick Institute. The day is free to attend, just turn up with your drawing supplies and sketchbooks.

The main foyer at the British Library

PLEASE NOTE : The British Library are happy for us to draw there but have specified that ‘the only thing we would ask is that you are all mindful of other people and you are not setting up ‘large’ bulky easel stands.’

Key times and meeting point

11 am – We’ll meet in the main foyer just inside the main front doors - see photo above.

1 pm – We’ll meet in the main foyer just inside the main front doors to look at drawings so far

3.30 pm – We’ll meet in the main foyer just inside the main front doors to look at the drawings from the day and take a group photo. For those who want to stay and chat further we can go to one of the nearby coffee shops or pubs.

The many levels at the British Library

What to draw

The British Library's St Pancras building - a grade I listed largest public building constructed in the UK in the 20th century - is a delight for any artist to sketch. It's a busy hub for students, researchers and readers and it has many significant things to draw - in the middle of the building is a six-storey glass tower containing the King’s Library, with 65,000 printed volumes collected by King George III and given to the nation; very spacious and visually pleasing atrium and piazza, reading rooms in different floors if one has a reading pass (free registration to get a pass); British Library extension - Centre for Conservation; Entry gate designed by Lida and David Kindersley; large sculptures by Eduardo Paolozzi (a bronze statue based on William Blake’s study of Isaac Newton) and Antony Gormley; regular exhibitions (which are ticketed).

                                                                                 

One of the outside terraces 

The Francis Crick Institute

The Francis Crick Institute is ‘a biomedical discovery institute researching the biology underlying human health.’ The building itself is large, with an interesting design and they have a small café and exhibition area which is open to the public.

The outside of the British Library

Practical information

Facilities include cloak and luggage room, shops, toilets on each floor, free Wi-Fi, cafes (3 inside the building and 1 in the piazza) and a restaurant (on the 1st floor).

Good public transport connections with St. Pancras and Kings Cross stations nearby, both having National Rail, Underground and bus connections.

The address of the British Library is 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB

The day is run by Sangeeta Bhagawati and Lis Watkins

Let's draw the British Library - Saturday 2nd November