twitter favourites

Three of my favourite 'tweeters' from 2014.  A mixed bag but all worth a follow - @Swearing_Queen, @Alex_T_Smith and @98rosjon.

you've been framed

Visited the Saatchi Gallery today where there are lots of interesting pieces of work in a variety of different styles but the most beautiful thing there was the view of a winter sunset from the upper floor.  This photo doesn't do it justice.

Sketching London 2014

I've made a slideshow of some of my favourite drawings of London from this year - hope you will enjoy!

big dipper

Another drawing from the sketchcrawl yesterday with the London Urban Sketchers at the Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park.

The revolving bar...

Out today with the London Urban Sketchers in Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park - cold, but a great place to draw.

after after eight

Somerset House staircase

work (still) in progress

Working on an illustration today of church interior.

Metal boxes

Ralph Steadman's take on 'Breaking Bad' in the form of DVD metal covers.

in print

Spotted copies of Gabi Campanario's new book, 'The Urban Sketchers Handbook' in the shop at Somerset House.  I'm pleased to say I have a drawing included!

more street art

street life

Painted wall in Brussels.

still more from the train

more views from the train

Train in vain

A train delay becomes a sketching opportunity...

you wait for one...

Half a dozen of the bus sculptures on the Croydon Bus Trail celebrating the Year of the Bus.  

Details of the trail here http://www.tfl.gov.uk/campaign/around-croydon

turkey dinner

I illustrated a page of the Tesco Christmas Magazine this month showing how to cook the perfect turkey.

work in progress

ambition

I made a quick sketch which is being used on the logo for the forthcoming 'Ambition' Festival in Croydon next summer.

 http://ambitionfest.com/

'Tis the season...

...to shamelessly plug one's Etsy shop!

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/lineandwash

Art shop

Artists have always looked for new spaces to use as studios, leading the way into new areas in towns and cities but I don’t remember hearing of an artist setting up a studio in a shopping centre before.  Hale Man is currently the ‘Artist in Residence’ at the Whitgift Centre in Croydon and I had a chance to see inside her studio earlier this week, viewing large sculptures and new paintings.  She has been working in the former shop unit for several months and seems to be enjoying the experience, doing her own projects and also running workshops.  

The studio is open to the public at various times so do check out her website for more information - http://hale-man.com/

Hale Man

Art Studios

Unit 50/51

The Whitgift Centre

Croydon

*The photographs show details from two of her 3D pieces.

spoon

on reflection

An instagram of the Saffron Tower in Croydon.  Did I mention that I have a bus sculpture nestling underneath it?!

It's all about the bus...

A look at my finished decorated bus which forms part of the Croydon Bus Trail celebrating 'The Year of the Bus'.  Full details of the trail can be found here on the Tfl website https://www.tfl.gov.uk/campaign/around-croydon?intcmp=24193

Christmas Sketching!

telly sketching

NYE

My image of a champagne cork has been made into a repeat design for the cover of the New Year's Eve brochure for The Goodwood Hotel. 

Egon Schiele

Small but fantastic exhibition currently on at the Courtauld Gallery of drawings by Egon Schiele.

More information here - http://www.courtauld.ac.uk/gallery/exhibitions/2014/Schiele/index.shtml

deck the halls

My drawing of holly has been used by The Goodwood Hotel on their online brochure this year.

walking in a winter wonderland

Map for 'Love Wimbledon' illustrating the various rides and attractions at their Winter Wonderland day last Sunday. 

pak choi

At the Christmas Craft Fair

packing up

Andy Warhol in Croydon

Front window of the new Rise Gallery in Croydon, currently showing work by Damien Hirst amongst others.

Finishing touches...

Christmas stockings

Illustration on a Christmas card for a client in the education sector.

ginger nut

nearing the end of the journey...

I'm nearing the end of painting my bus sculpture - just adding the final details.  Big reveal is on December 8th!

Next Sunday

I'll be selling my biscuit prints next Sunday at the Christmas Market at Langley Park Boys School.

summer photo

One of my photos from the summer - bicycles in Paris.  It all seems a long way off now the weather is cold and miserable in London!

pattern painting

Pattern painting so far on my bus sculpture. 

behind the counter at Fat Boys Diner

materials

Still on the bus... using acrylics is a lot different to watercolour!

Sketching 365

It was exciting to be asked to contribute some images to a new book by London Urbansketcher Katherine Tyrell.  The book is called 'Sketching 365' and you can find out more about it on her blog - this is the link http://makingamark.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/new-book-called-sketching-365.html

The John Ruskin Prize

Exhibition currently on at Trinity Buoy Wharf entitled 'Recording Britain Now' - drawings selected by the Campaign for Drawing for the John Ruskin Prize.  More information on the exhibition here http://www.thebigdraw.org/event/Recording_Britain_Now_2014_John_Ruskin_Prize_Exhibition/5597

Containers at Trinity Buoy Wharf

On the buses - week one

Sanding, priming and tracing.

close-up

Work in progress.

waiting for the bus

This is the bus sculpture I am currently painting - all will be revealed on December 8th!

Wimbledon nightlife

I illustrated a map for the 'Love Wimbledon' team last year and this year updated it to highlight the nightlife.

Find out more at http://www.lovewimbledon.org/visitors/our-sw19/winter-guide/

at the Blue Mountain cafe