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

---

London by Urban Sketchers - Our 10 Year Anniversary Book

Order your copy here!

Urban Sketchers London on social media

• Instagram    @urbansketcherslondon
• Facebook     @USKLondon
• Twitter         @UrbSketchLondon

Join our mailing list

Sign up here to receive all the latest Urban Sketchers London news in your email Inbox.

---

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

We drew at Tate Modern - January 2020

Our first sketchcrawl of 2020 (Jo Dungey writes), and we met at Tate Modern on Bankside, on Saturday 11 January 2020.  It must have been one of our biggest meet-ups, as more than eighty people joined us for all or part of the day.  The photograph above shows us with our morning sketches, and below you can see the group at the end of the day, in the Tate Modern Turbine Hall, next to the smaller of Kara Walker's sculptures.

Currently installed in the Turbine Hall is Kara Walker's major sculpture, Fons Americanus, and that was a popular choice of subject for sketchers.  Others chose views of the building, visitors, and artworks.  Views of the surrounding area from the gallery windows were also sketched, and quite a few people drew outside, despite the mid-winter weather.

Visit the Urban Sketchers London Facebook page to see more sketches and photographs.  The day was run by Jo Dungey and Gafung Wong, and the photographs are by Jo and Gafung.  

Our next meet-up is on Saturday 15 February 2020, when we will have an opportunity to draw at the Wallace Collection and nearby St James RC Church - details are on this blog, here.

We drew at Tate Modern - January 2020

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.

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

Spiders

When Tate Modern opened in 2000, the first artist to display work in the gallery’s vast Turbine Hall was Louise Bourgeois (1911-2010). Work on show included Maman (1999), the largest of her spider sculptures.

The spider has become one of Louise Bourgeois’ most well-known themes. Her parents ran a workshop for tapestry restoration. The title Maman alludes to the strength of her mother, with metaphors of spinning, weaving, nurture and protection.

Urban Sketchers London returned to Tate Modern for our sketchcrawl on Saturday 21 January 2017. Here are some of us in the Turbine Hall, looking at the sketches done that afternoon.

Photo: James Hobbs

Although the largest spider sculpture Tate owns, Maman, is not currently on display, the new Tate Switchhouse has an Artist’s Room devoted to Louise Bourgeois. This includes two other spider sculptures on display, which some of us drew:

Lis Watkins
'Spider' 

Jo Dungey
Spider 1 (1994)

Marie Desy-Field
Spider 1995

Spiders

Let's draw in and around Tate Modern - 21 January 2017

View of Switch House by Isabel Carmona

In January 2017 we are meeting to draw in and around Tate Modern, an area with spectacular views of the Thames riverside (we will be opposite St Paul’s and the City of London). The new extension to Tate Modern – the Switch House - is also spectacular and from the top we can enjoy one of London’s best panoramic views. 

Date : Saturday 21st January 2017

Timetable for the day:

• Start meeting 11 am: Meet at the riverside, below the Tate Modern chimney. In wet conditions we will be just beside the chimney by the riverside entrance to the Tate (to the left of the chimney as you look towards the building).

• Halfway meeting 1 pm: Meet on the opposite side of Tate Modern, in the new circular terrace just outside the entrance to the new extension, between the Switch House entrance and the Terrace entrance.  If it is wet, we will be just inside the Terrace entrance.  See map of level 1 (http://www.tate.org.uk/download/file/fid/105226) 

• Finish meeting point, 3:30 pm: Meet inside, in the middle of the Turbine Hall, level 0,at the bottom of the ramp coming down from the Turbine Hall entrance.

• Afterwards - meeting point to continue discussions and drinks (and to draw some more if you wish), from around 4pm: Meet at the bar of the Citizen M Hotel in Lavington Street, almost Southwark Street. 

Tate Modern is free of charge (other than for special exhibitions) and there are extensive collection displays in both the Boiler House and the new Switch House extension.  See all you can do here: http://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-modern

Drawing possibilities are inexhaustible around here, amongst others you could draw:

• the riverside with views of the St Paul’s embankment, the Millennium Bridge, 

• Tate Modern, outside or inside including the Turbine Hall and the new Switch House interior architecture,

• one of the best views in London from level 10 of the Switch House,

• the new terrace and mini park by the Terrace entrance

• People inside, outside the museum and around the cafes, the riverside, everywhere.

Please note the Gallery Rules: http://www.tate.org.uk/about/who-we-are/policies-and-procedures/gallery-rules  which state: ‘The use of charcoal, pastels, permanent marker, and watercolour or oil paint is not allowed in the galleries'.  We have sought clarification and this includes all areas of the building. 

View of St Paul's from Tate Modern by Isabel Carmona

How to get here: There is a map and information about transport and facilities on the Tate website: http://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-modern#visit

There are plenty of cafes and sandwich bars for various budgets either inside Tate Modern or around Sumner Street, Convey Street or Southwark Street. The only pub in the area, the Founders Arms serves food but it is normally very busy.

In any case, there is so much to do and see around here and so little time, that you'll be itching to keep on drawing! 

We look forward to this day sketching together in London

Day organisers: Isabel Carmona and Dionisa Joseph Mattam.

Let's draw in and around Tate Modern - 21 January 2017

Let's Draw St Paul's to the Thames - 25th April 2015

For our next London Urban Sketchers' Sketchcrawl we're got the scope to draw some big buildings and big views!

St Paul's Cathedral and the Millennium Bridge
copyright Katherine Tyrrell

• WHERE:  St Paul's to the Thames
• WHEN: Sunday 26th April 2015 CHANGED TO Saturday 25th April 2015 (due to the London Marathon)
• START: 11:00am at the top of the steps (right hand side) of the Main Entrance to St Paul's Cathedral.
• LUNCH: 1:30pm on the Roof Terrace of One New Change (if dry; wet weather venue to be notified)
• END: 3:30pm Paternoster Square - between St Paul's Cathedral Steps and St Paul's Tube Station (if dry; wet weather venue to be notified)
• MAP: A map has been created in Google Maps/Drive of the area and key places
• TUBE: Stations: St Paul's (Central Line); Blackfriars and Mansion House (District and Circle Lines)
• RAIL: Thameslink @ London Blackfriars and City Thameslink; Cannon Street

Last time we were at St Paul's - in August 2014 - we sketched the churches of Wren's London.

London Urban Sketchers on the steps of St Paul's Cathedral
at the end of Pete Scully's Wren's Churches Sketchcrawl August 2014

On Saturday 25th April 2015, London Urban Sketchers are going to be sketching the part of the City of London around St Paul's Cathedral - down to the north bank of the Thames.

The view of where we're sketching from Tate Modern 7th floor
copyright Katherine Tyrrell

Birds Eye View of the area around St Paul's Cathedral
right click and open in a new tab to see much larger version

Above is a top down view of the area - right click the image and open in a new tab to see what's there. The suggested boundaries of the area are:

• North: Paternoster Square, the London Stock Exchange and Christchurch Greyfriars Garden
• West: Ludgate Hill and the narrow allies between Ludgate Hill and Queen Victoria Street
• East: One New Change - this is a brand new shopping centre which is open on Sunday from 12:00. On the Roof Terrace (accessible via the lifts) there are great views right across London plus a really up close view of the top of St Paul's Cathedral
• South: The north bank of the River Thames and the Millennium Bridge - accessed via Peter's Hill - south of St Paul's - which has lots of views off either side of churches and alley ways.

Here's another view of the area - taken from the map near the City Information Centre across the road from the Main Entrance to St. Paul's

Map of the area around St Paul's Cathedral

What you can sketch

There's masses to choose from whatever type of sketching you like doing. Here are some suggestions

St Paul's Cathedral and Churchyard - lots of architecture from lots of different perspectives around and about. You can find great views of it from:

• Fleet Street and the bottom of Ludgate Hill looking up to the Cathedral

"Ludgate Hill - A block in the Street" by Gustave Doré- from London, A Pilgrimage, 1872
The view caught by Doré of the view up Ludgate Hill to St Paul's Cathdral.
It's a bit different now - but you could try sketching it!

• From Peter's Hill looking up from the Thames and the Millennium Bridge

The view of St Paul's from Peter's Hill walking up from the Millennium Bridge

• From the Churchyard - just looking up
• From the Roof Terrace of One New Change - where you can get a whole new perspective on the Dome.

I created "The Leaning Dome of St Paul's" the last time I sketched it
from the Roof Terrace!

You can also draw people just sitting the people sitting on the steps...

Take a walk down Peter's Hill to the Millennium Bridge

the view down Peter's Hill to the Millennium Bridge and Tate Modern

On the Millennium Bridge take a look at the view east up the Thames of The Shard and bridges over the Thames and, if you're lucky, the exposed shoreline complete with timber sticking up 

The view east from the Millennium Bridge
- of the tidal beach, the Shard and bridge along the Thames

Go below the Millennium Bridge and there's some great views to be had of Tate Modern. Trying to draw the Millennium Bridge is tricky from any angle!

The view of Tate Modern and the Millennium Bridge from the north bank of the River Thames
below City of London School
Katherine Tyrrell

PLUS (excitement!!) we're also going to be able to sketch Shaun the Sheep ;) who is taking up residence in various guises in the City of London between now and the end of May. You'll be able to see

• one called 'Out of this World' Shaun at the City Information Centre, (- just to the south of St Paul's Churchyard) designed by Josh and Aimee Williams
• two more - 'Fine & Gandy' by David Gandy and 'Wolly Wiggle' by Zandra Rhodes - at One New Change

AND.....

If people are up for it we may just try a "Draw the Dome in 15 minutes Challenge" over lunch at the Roof Terrace!  You can of course just watch!

After the Sketchcrawl

You can add sketches to the

• London Urban Sketchers Facebook Group - please add them to the St Pauls Sketchcrawl Album https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.353603474837411&type=1

OR

• London Urban Sketchers Flickr Group Pool https://www.flickr.com/groups/usklondon-grouppool/

Let's Draw St Paul's to the Thames - 25th April 2015

The Heron and some Cranes

 The Heron and some Cranes. Pencil and watercolour 149 x 210 mm

I went down to the Tate today, to see the Klee's, and after that I popped up to the 3rd floor to paint (as you do.) Then I dropped my rigger brush down one of the grates by the window. I asked the staff to run a recovery operation so I could finish up. If you can't ask an art gallery assistant to get a brush back for you, who can you ask? Needless to say, I didn't use it.

The Heron and some Cranes

Tate to Tate Sketchers!

Thanks to the small but dedicated bunch of sketchers that came down Friday last week to join me on my walk from the Tate Modern to the Tate Britain. Although the weather looked ominous to begin with, it soon brightened up into a warm and sunny afternoon.

I think the most interesting sight along the route was that of construction workers dangling from the rafters of the Blackfriars railway bridge, like giant orange bats. It was quite unusual and I'm glad we all got the opportunity to sketch it.

We also got a special guest appearance from Urban Sketcher James Hobbs, who happened to be cycling by and spotted us!

I chose to focus on smaller details of scenes to try and get more done, as it's quite a pressure when you have to keep moving. Even with our relaxed pace, I found it quite difficult to capture as much as I wanted.

I think I'll have to draw some more people next time too!

Not everyone could stay 'til the finishline, but a few of us were able to sit down and have a very pleasant drink and compare sketchbooks at the end. 

Thanks everyone! and I'm looking forward to doing something similar again soon. Details will be posted on here!

Tate to Tate Sketchers!