The Election 2015

I spent some time today visiting local polling stations to capture some of the election action close to home. Along the way I bumped into the Labour representative for my area and mistook him for another party – whoops! There was a steady flow of people and the great weather helped the turn out I should imagine. I then did some more sketches when I cast my vote later this evening. We will see what tomorrow brings, either way I look forward to not having election campaign news on TV anymore!

Record Store Day at Soundclash, Norwich

Being a fan of vinyl and 6 music I was well aware of record store day this year, and I wanted to try and capture the excitement. So I headed down to Soundclash in Norwich, where there were people queuing from around 2:30am. The queue was rather impressive at 9am when I drew the below. Once inside the remaining rare specially released albums and singles were being snapped up. Great atmosphere and I chatted to some happy vinyl fans, roll on next year! For more information on Record Store Day visit: www.recordstoreday.co.uk

A proper cup of coffee...

Had a really nice cup of coffee earlier today at The Little Red Roaster in Norwich. This place has a good reputation and thought I would give it a go, wasn't disappointed :-)

To paint or not to paint...

I'm working on a series of illustrations around Norwich at the moment to sell at the upcoming Clutter City event and am toying with watercolour or digital colouring, all based on line drawings done from life. Below is the train station, what do we think? I'm growing increasingly fond of not using a computer so am swaying to watercolour, which I use in my sketchbooks – but still like bold flat digital colour, oh the dilemma!

Last days with the Wildhorses...

A gift I drew for my last employers - Wildhorse Design in Muswell Hill, London. As drawn from my seat over several lunch breaks during my last week there mid July. It was the least I could do for such a great bunch of people who got me a lovely leaving present, will miss those guys!

Homeward bound

We are nearly back there now... finished work in London after 3 years down here. Now to sort the big move out! Looking forward to more of this view.

As painted whilst somewhere between Ely and Thetford on the train.

Good Parenting?

Whilst getting the tube into the city on Sunday I sat opposite this pair. The mum spent the entire journey on her smartphone whilst the little boy looked very fed up. Guess organising her inbox couldn't wait!

Norwich Lanes

The Birdcage and the Grosvenor Fish Bar, Norwich. As drawn whilst sitting on a bench after an interview Thursday 5th June in a brand new hot pressed sketchbook from Norwich Arts Supplies.

The interior of the very cool The Birdcage pub on Saturday 14th June, drawn whilst enjoying a coffee and a conversation with local photographer Mick – as pictured at the bar.

1st class train journey

We have just returned from another weekend back in Norfolk (sketches to follow!) and during our train back to London we had to change at Colchester. Being 1st class ticket holders I was looking forward to a comfortable last leg of the journey... but oh no! Some sort of mix-up as there was far too many people to even fit on the train, so we were crammed in with all our luggage but at least we got a seat! To document the occasion I did this drawing, the two chaps opposite me didn't seem bothered with me drawing them, think they were too angry with Greater Anglia than to be bothered by a odd chap with his watercolour set out!

Dabbling in Watercolour

I've had a travel watercolour set for a while now but always been a bit unsure how to work with it, but after meeting fellow urban sketcher Lion Ren he really inspired me to get a decent waterbrush and start adding colour to my work. So here are some of my first pieces so far. Back at school I could never really get watercolours and went straight to oils but I now really appreciate them for the sheer speed and versatility. I will continue to experiment and see how I get on!

Long Live Southbank Anniversary Jam – Forty Years Later… 1 Year On

This weekend just gone I went along to this legendary skate spot to see the community jam to celebrate one year of the 'Long Live Southbank' campaign. It was a wonderful sunny day and the place was buzzing with hundreds of people seeing some great skateboarding and BMXing.

If you don't know of the campaign to save the Undercroft from redevelopment please see their website to learn more about the place and it's rich history: http://www.llsb.com/

I made these in-situ drawings during the day to capture the moment and met several people interested in what I was doing. The highlight being a Chinese chap who stood with me for at least 20 mins whilst I drew the skateboard graveyard from the Hungerford Bridge, he was fascinated by my detailed drawing of broken skateboards and said "you are beautiful" I think he was talking about the drawing however!

A walk to the garden centre

Really sunny today, so we took a walk to the nearby Alexandra Palace garden centre for a cup of tea on their roof terrace. We soaked up lots of sun whilst a nearby old couple fell asleep and birds circled us looking for crumbs!

Taking the tube home…

I've had a busy last few weeks hence the lack of posts on here, apologies for that. It's not that I haven't been drawing, because I have everyday. I will catch up with my posts this week and share some of the projects I have been working on, so watch this space!

St Paul's Cathedral from Tate Modern

Had a wander at lunch today and decided to do a drawing of the view across the Thames from the Tate Modern. After 15-20mins of drawing alone I was suddenly surrounded by a group of Italian students who were looking over my shoulder. I asked one what she thought and she said "bellissimo!" after they took a few photos of my efforts I finished up and said goodbye - was an interesting experience!

A visit to the printers

Back in October last year I had to get some prints done at a local printers for a presentation at work. I had to wait 15mins and I didn't have my sketchbook with me, so I managed to find a spare bit of a A4 and their pen on a chain on the reception desk to complete the drawing below of the large digital printer along with all the other pieces of equipment scattered about. Lesson to be learned: never forget your sketchbook!

Urban Sketchers Covent Garden sketchcrawl

Had a really good day on Sunday meeting up with these guys at a new coffee shop called Timberyard in Covent Garden, that currently has a exhibition of Urban Sketchers sketchbooks. After a few coffees and catch ups we visited the beautiful Neal's Yard of Neal's Yard Remedies fame for some drawing. After my legs started to go numb I headed to the nearest coffee shop with everyone else to warm up! We then finished at the National gallery, where I just had to do a sketch of Trafalgar Square. Another very inspiring day - bring on the next one!

Photo by Nathan Brenville from the Urban Sketchers London Blog (i'm the one looking uncomfortable cross legged on the floor)

Drawing on the line

I have a real addiction to drawing on the tube... so many great subjects to draw, I love the variety of characters, outfits and types of people. I have been spotted a few times, some people mind, some people smile, either way it's always fun. Here are a few pages from my sketchbooks. One day I intend to make a huge poster or a little magazine of all of these (I do about 2-3 pages most days) so watch this space!