Christmas Market at Eaton Park Bicycle Shop Cafe.

My second Christmas Market

 On the 18th december Eaton park were holding a carol singing concert in the bandstand along with a Christmas market at the Bicycle Shop Cafe who now have a cafe at the park as well as on St Benedict Street. It was a great evening made me feel very festive drinking mulled wine. Lots of chatting about Norwich and selling which was good.With the success of the two markets I hope to do more markets in 2018 as well as hopefully open an online shop.

Bandstand at Eaton Park

This above illustration is one of my first ever Urban sketches I did in 2012 and is my most popular image. A great cafe.

Mini Book card depicting life in the bicycle shop cafe St Benedict Street

 Photos of my stall at the Bicycle shop cafe Eaton park

My First go at selling at Christmas Makers Markets - Cards,calendars prints.... - Take a look!

On the 28th November I had a stall at my first Norwich Makers Market Held at St Thomas's Church Norwich. Here are some of the items I was selling. They all tell a story of Norwich and depict well known iconic landmarks as well as hidden and lesser known parts. My Mini Book cards and calendars also capture life in Norwich from local green party demonstrations to well known stall holders on the market. I had a great time at the fair and did really well for my first go with lots of positive comments. What I enjoyed the most was chatting to local Norwich folk about memories and the places that they were especially fond of which has given me lots of ideas for places to sketch next year. I think I will continue with the series of Mini book cards in 2018.

USK Norwich - Sketching the Cathedral - Sunday 17th November

It was bitterly cold day in November so most of us took refuge inside the warmth of the cathedral. I decided to work on a different format vertical panoramic which meant zooming in and studying the amazing architectural structures and wonderful nave vaulting, arches, decorative details and people pausing to rest in this peaceful and magnificent setting.

 

Sketching Assembly House - Norwich

Urban Sketchers Norwich October Sketch Crawl

Really into my detailed pen work after my trip to Venice. Spent the whole afternoon sketching this very English Georgian house designed by Sir Thomas Ivory in 1754. It is grade I listed. Inside it is very luxurious and serves a delicious hot chocolate and cream tea. It was a hot afternoon for October so nice to bask in the sun whilst sketching. Never actually realised that the word Norwich is toparied in the front of the wrought iron railings.

Wet Day Urban Sketching Upper St Giles - September 2017

Catching up on Urban sketching events. Norwich Urban Sketchers Met at Upper St Giles Norwich on Sunday 17th September. Wow! did the heavens open that day with torential rain. I started sketching this wonderful shop front when big raindrops hit my sketch. I let the rain bleed the ink to capture the atmosphere of the day.

I sketched a man window shopping before the heavens opened adding to my collection of Norwich Shop Fronts. I tried to work on a buff coloured paper to create a vantage feel.

Photographs of Walls Venice

These days I generally sketch from life more rather than take photographs. I do still however have a fascination for photographing walls and windows which I collect on my travels. Venice was a minefield of richly textured and coloured walls revealing layers of time. The colour of the walls and doors of Burano Island of coloured houses were beautiful. 

Sketching along the canal - Cannaregio Venice

On our last day in Venice had longer time to sketch. I decided to sit along the canal and sketch along the edges of the water in my hand made small concertina book. A gift I would give to my sister for her birthday.  Cannaregio is part of the Jewish ghetto area my favourite place in Venice. Here is a video of my sketch.

Sketching in Venice

I was only in Venice for three days so only had a short time to capture a feel of this unique magical world of canals and hidden streets a world heritage site which is under threat of tourism. Even in October it was really busy along the main tourist spots like Rialto Bridge and St. Marks Square. We decided to explore the hidden streets and alleys of venice instead. I did get the chance to stop for a quick sketch now and then. I wish I had longer to capture the energy and chaos of canal life, and the wonderful characters . Its amazing when you find time to sit and watch life it's so full of beautiful moments that flash past you. Full of stories but not enough time.

Sketches on A vaporetto (water bus) along the Grand Canal

                           

Matite in Viaggio Exhibition Venice

At the beginning of October I travelled out to Venice for the opening of the 7th year of the Matite in Viaggio Exhibition held at the Cultural Centre in Candiani-Mestre. The exhibition  aims to enhance and promote the culture of travel and the art of documenting its experience through drawing and writing. I was exhibiting a selection of my Japan sketches  made in 2007 and under the theme of "The Dressed World" sketches of people made on train trips.It was a wonderful experience to meet so many sketchers from around the world who share the same passion. We were all given a lovely catalogue of the event and we spent couple of evenings feasting and celebrating.

                 

Sketching a beautiful secret garden in the heart of Norwich

The Norwich Urban sketchers met at Plantation gardens a wonderful idiosyncratic garden which was originally a chalk quarry. After all the rain we have had recently we were lucky to have the perfect sunny afternoon. The garden has many different levels surrounded by wonderful flora and fauna, a rustic bridge, a gothic fountain and wonderful decorative medieval stone walls. It was as if you were in a different world, dreams of foregone summers. There were people picnicking, a choir singing, children playing,  people hidden amongst the stonewalls, bridges and foliage, all having a peaceful and relaxed time. I got carried away with all the activity and setting. I tried to capture a sense of place maybe I got too excited with my pens!!

Sketching in Presteigne Wales

Just come back from a lovely holiday in the Welsh Valleys staying in a cottage in the quirky village of Presteigne.  The weather was pretty wet most of the time so I didn't get much chance to sketch apart from a couple of brighter evenings. A rusty old motorbike caught my eye parked against a wall by a cottage. Whilst I was sketching a lady came to put her bins out and saw me sketching. She said the bike was her husbands and she wanted to buy my sketch for his birthday which again was a lovely surprise. On the opposite side of the road is a wonderful wild garden in front of a large front door which I couldn't resist sketching.