We drew at Trinity Buoy Wharf - September 2019

We had a great day sketching at Trinity Buoy Wharf on Sunday 15 September.  This is the location of London's only lighthouse, which was a popular subject for sketches, as was the bright red lightship.  Others drew the colourful container buildings and artists' studios.  The Wharf offers dramatic views of the river, across to the O2 (Millennium Dome), to Canary Wharf and to the east.  Some great panoramic views were produced.  London is always changing, and it was interesting to portray scenes which are not the traditional postcard views of the city.

Photographs are by Gafung Wong and Jo Dungey, who ran the day.  Our next sketchcrawl is on Saturday 5 October 2019, when we will be drawing the City of London, meeting by the Guildhall.  Scroll down this blog for information.

We drew at Trinity Buoy Wharf - September 2019

Let's draw the City of London - Saturday 5 October 2019

In October we meet to draw in the City of London, a location combining old and new architecture in different styles.   We can draw some of the major City buildings: the Mansion House, the Bank of England, and nearby modern buildings such as No 1 Poultry.  There will be a chance to sketch outside and inside the Guildhall Museum and Art Gallery, the Guildhall Great Hall and Guildhall Yard.  In the same area there are fine examples of Wren’s architecture:  St Lawrence Jewry, St Stephen Walbrook and St Mary-le-Bow.  

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

Key times and meeting points for the day:

11am: Meet in front of the Guildhall (see photograph above).  There is a spacious square, Guildhall Yard, in front of the Guildhall, and some shelter if the weather is wet. 

1pm: Meet again in front of the Guildhall to look at sketches done so far and take group photographs.

3.30pm: Meet again at the same place to look at sketches done, and take group photographs. We can meet inside the Guildhall Art Gallery if the weather is bad. 

If people wish to go for drinks afterwards, the suggested pub is Ye Olde Watling at 29 Watling Street.

Options for drawing: 

The beautiful Guildhall Great Hall, the City’s only surviving secular medieval building dates from 1411.    The adjacent Guildhall Museum and Art Gallery offers free admission and indoor sketching opportunities, opening hours 10am to 5pm.  The Guildhall stands on the remains of London’s only Roman amphitheatre, which can be seen at the lower level of the Art Gallery. 

Across the Guildhall Yard is St Lawrence Jewry, an elegant church re-built using the drawings of Sir Christopher Wren after being damaged during World War Two.

Other Wren churches in the area include St Stephen Walbrook (below), St Mary Le Bow and St Mary Aldermary.  

We will be at the heart of the City, and some of the major buildings including the Mansion House (below) and the Royal Exchange (scaffolded: draw it anyway!).

The Bank of England was originally designed by Sir John Soane in 1788, and his statue can be seen in a niche at the side of the building.  The building has been much altered since it was first built.

A prominent modern building is No 1 Poultry, architect James Stirling.

There are many other options and views, including small shops, pubs, seating areas and small city gardens.

Practical information:

The nearest underground stations are Bank (Northern and Central lines) and St Paul’s (Central line).

Although some City cafes and pubs are closed at the weekend, there are still plenty of options for food and drinks.  Cafes and small supermarkets include the One New Change shopping centre near Cheapside open 10am-6pm.  There are toilets in cafes and in the museum. 

The day is run by Olga Mackness and Katy Evans.  The watercolour of the Guildhall is by Katy Evans, photographs are by Olga Mackness, Katy Evans and Jo Dungey.

Let's draw the City of London - Saturday 5 October 2019

We drew on a summer evening near Tower Bridge - 7 August 2019

We met on Wednesday 7 August 2019 for an evening of sketching by the river.  It was good to be joined by so many people, including visitors to London as well as people who sketch with us regularly.  Many people tackled the challenge of drawing the changing city skyline.  Others drew passers by at this busy tourist spot, as well as the historic landmarks in this area.

The evening was run by Lis Watkins and Jo Dungey.

We drew on a summer evening near Tower Bridge - 7 August 2019

We drew Greenwich - August 2019

(Olga Mackness writes)

End of the Day group photo - with Naval Heroes looking down 

Thank you everyone who attended our August meeting at (my personal favorite) Greenwich.
We were very lucky with the weather - the day was bright and sunny. It's been a pleasure to see many new faces and many more different sketching styles.

One of the sketchers in the very quiet courtyard - look closer to the left

Sketch by Mike Barber

Happy sketcher - happy start of the day.

There were many different options to draw - and main choices for the sketchers were
- Island Gardens - from the other side of the river, looking at Greenwich
- Gipsy Moth location with the carousel
- Naval College - magnificent architecture
- Royal Observatory
- Trafalgar Tavern

Sketch by Steve Baker

Sketch by Karen Jones

Of course there were many more different subjects and objects drawn, different mediums used and interesting stories shared.

Alison Gardiner contributed very interesting story about her own family history  - Gipsy Moth pub and a general Thames vista. 
on the Facebook

If any of you wondered about Naval Heroes busts on the Visitor's Centre facade, click here to learn more.

Overall it has been fantastic day. The day was not enough to cover all the areas and draw all of the possibilities offered by Greenwich.

Let's come some other time and draw more!

Sketch by Mike Whalley - day's organiser

We drew Greenwich - August 2019

A Christening Party....

[John Webb writes]  A once in a while sketching serendipidy...or I got lucky on Nicky Brown/The Fountain Gallery's Week of Saints.  Sketching at the Churches in Richmond.  While labouring over the page drawing a pinnacle or few in popped light relief.  They stayed sufficiently still to invite a sketch but not long enough for tightness to grab it.  So a compilation of the main parts...a quickie... more satisfying than my others on the day.

A Christening Party....

Let's draw Trinity Buoy Wharf - Sunday 15 September 2019

In September, we visit Trinity Buoy Wharf, which is on the north bank of the Thames, across the river from the O2 (formerly Millennium Dome in North Greenwich).  Trinity Buoy Wharf was established in 1803 as a Thames-side workshop for Trinity House, responsible for buoys, lighthouses and lightships.  It now preserves some of its old buildings as homes for creative industries including The Big Draw, and has outdoor sculpture displays, studios, cafes, a pier, and London’s only lighthouse.  These old industrial buildings contrast with nearby contemporary housing developments. The Wharf has spectacular river views of the eastern part of the Thames. 

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

Note we are meeting on a Sunday this month.

Key times and meeting points for the day:

11am: Meet by the lighthouse at Trinity Buoy Wharf (see photograph above).  If the weather is wet, there is some shelter inside the lighthouse and in the diner.
1pm: Meet at the same place to look at sketches done so far.
3.30pm: Meet at the same place to look at sketches done, and to take group photographs.

Options for drawing:
This day offers some dramatic contrasts for sketchers

The Wharf has interesting old buildings, a lighthouse and a lightship

There are many contemporary sculptures and installations, and artists’ studios

There are spectacular views of modern developments at Canary Wharf and North Greenwich, in this very rapidly changing area of London

If there is bad weather, there are two cafes.  There is also some scope to draw indoors in the lighthouse and the Chainstore, but this is primarily an outdoor location.

Practical information:

Transport: the nearest underground station is Canning Town, on the Jubilee Line and Docklands Light Railway. Leaving Canning Town station, follow the signs to Bow Creek and City Island.  Exit the station and take the red footbridge to City Island.

It is about a fifteen minute walk to Trinity Buoy Wharf.  Walk through the new housing developments of City Island (photograph above), then under a bridge where you can see the O2 (Millenium Dome) ahead.  On the route there are maps of City Island and signs to Trinity Buoy Wharf. There is building development happening in this area, some rough pavements and traffic, so take care.

Food and drink: there are two cafes, the Fat Boy Diner and the Orchard Café at Trinity Buoy Wharf, but no shops, so you could bring a packed lunch. There are public toilets at the back of the Orchard Café.

There is more information on the Trinity Buoy Wharf website.

This day is run by Jo Dungey and Gafung Wong

Let's draw Trinity Buoy Wharf - Sunday 15 September 2019

We drew Regent's Park - July 2019

(Steven Baker writes) Thanks to everyone who attended our July meeting, focussing on the south side of Regent’s Park.  As always, we worried about poor weather conditions, especially as thunderstorms had been forecast for a few days beforehand.  This was of concern as the location did not provide too much cover.  Thankfully, we escaped with a short shower that had not deterred a good turnout.  As the day brightened, we were able to enjoy the gardens, and as always some fantastic work was produced by everyone.

Above, a few sketchers enjoying the sun and drawing.

The group meeting at lunchtime for the throw down of sketches done in the morning. 

Some of the sketchers, and throw down of sketches done in the morning and afternoon.

Final line up at the end of the day, in front of the park's decorative Jubilee Gates.

We drew Regent's Park - July 2019