Urban Sketchers London

We have moved!

noreply@blogger.com (Sasala Wickramasinghe) — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 16:10:00 +0000

We have moved!

Check out our brand new website.

https://urbansketcherslondon.co.uk/

Since January 2024, we have a brand new website for all the Urban Sketchers London content. Our sketch walk schedule, blog posts for our up coming sketch walks, and contact details etc are on the new site.

If you haven't signed up/subscribed to the new website, please do so by clicking on the "Subscribe" button on the new homepage.

You will receive all the updates and new posts straight to your mailbox.

Please note that the old Blogger site will be retired and no longer be updated, but you will still be able to view historical content here.

Please do get in touch using the contact form if you have any further questions.

In the meantime,

You can find us on social media as usual

Instagram @urbansketcherslondon
Facebook @USKLondon

Twitter @UrbSketchLondon

See you soon at a sketch walk nearby!

We drew London (a lot!) in 2023 - A productive year in review

noreply@blogger.com (C Barlow Marrs SGFA) — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 21:37:00 +0000

Christmas at the Natural History Museum
Sketch by Sasala Wickramasinghe

From the Urban Sketchers London admin team, a big thank you to everyone who helped us to stage a record 26 sketchwalks in 2023, from Somerset House to Shoreditch and Brixton to Battersea Power Station.

Best wishes for a peaceful holiday season.

Let's draw London in 2024!

London by Urban Sketchers - Our 10 Year Anniversary Book
Order your copy here

Victoria & Albert Museum - January 21
Led by Jimmy Lu and Rachel Bone
photo by Sasala Wickramasinghe

Battersea Power Station - February 18

Led by Andrea Deng and Jimmy Lu

photo by Zane Karklina

Greenwich - March 18
Led by Mike Whalley and Olga Mackness
photo by Sasala Wickramasinghe

Shoreditch 1 - April 15

Led by Jia You and Jimmy Lu

photo by Jia You

Shoreditch 2 - April 30

Led by Sasala Wickramasinghe and Jimmy Lu

Photo by Jimmy Lu

Richmond 1 - May 20

Led by Helen Hayhoe and John Swanson

Photo by Nigel Abbott

Summer Late 1 South Bank- May 24

Led by Sasala Wickramasinghe

photo by Zane Karklina

Richmond 2 - June 4

Led by Helen Hayhoe and Sasala Wickramasinghe

photo by Nigel Abbott

Crystal Palace Park 1 - June 17

Led by Sarah Minty

Photo by Sarah Minty

Summer Late 2 Tate Modern - June 30

Led by John Swanson

Crystal Palace Park 2 - July 2

Led by Lis Watkins and Jimmy Lu

Photo by Lis Watkins

Fleet Street - July 8

Led by Akira Yamanaka and Adam Topór

photo by Cynthia Barlow Marrs

Wimbledon Village 1 - July 22

Led by Inga Knysh and Zane Karklina

photo by Zane Karklina

Summer Late 3 Somerset House - July 26

Led by Jimmy Lu

Wimbledon Village 2 - August 6

Led by Patricia Burbage and Zane Karklina

Photo by Zane Karklina

Mayfair 1 - August 19

Led by Isabel Carmona and Peggy Wong

photo by Peggy Wong

Mayfair 2 - September 23

Led by Peggy Wong and Andrea Deng

photo by Peggy Wong

Summer Late 4 Trafalgar Square - August 25

Led by Alison Gardiner

photo by Alison Gardiner

Harrow-on-the-Hill - September 23

Led by Madeleine Brennan and Sue Woodisse

photo by Zane Karklina

Chiswick Pier - September

Led by Helen Hayhoe and Sasala Wickramasinghe

Photo by Zane Karklina

Brixton 1 - October 8

Led by Dean Ashton and Catherine Bardrick

photo by Nigel Abbott

Brixton 2 - October 21

Led by Rachel Bone and Dean Ashton

photo by Jimmy Lu

Wellcome Collection 1 - November 4

Led by Helen Hayhoe and Sasala Wickramasinghe

photo by Nigel Abbott

Wellcome Collection 2 - November 19

Led by Helen Hayhoe and Dean Ashton

Photo by Nigel Abbott

South Bank Christmas Market 1 - December
Led by Sasala Wickramasinghe and John Swanson
Photo by Nigel Abbott

South Bank Christmas Market 2 - December
Led by Sasala Wickramasinghe and Alison Gardiner
Photo by Cynthia Barlow Marrs

Let's draw London in 2024!

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.

To remind: Let's draw the South Bank Christmas Market on Saturday 9 or Sunday 17 December 2023

noreply@blogger.com (C Barlow Marrs SGFA) — Tue, 05 Dec 2023 15:18:00 +0000

The Southbank Centre Food Market
Sketch by Robin Wang

We're sketching the Christmas Market on the South Bank, and we'd love to see you there!

Come join us on either Saturday December 9th or Sunday the 17th. Check out our original blog post for all the details.

See you at the Christmas Market!

Coming soon: the Urban Sketchers London programme for 2024 -- watch for it!

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 the Christmas Market at the South Bank on either Saturday 9 or Sunday 17 December 2023

noreply@blogger.com (C Barlow Marrs SGFA) — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 16:51:00 +0000

The Southbank Centre Food Market
Sketch by Robin Wang

In December we're sketching festivities at the Southbank Centre, with an almost unrivalled range of opportunities for urban sketching, of buildings, people, the River Thames and its bridges.

Southbank Centre London SE1 8XX

[John Swanson writes]

The Southbank Centre extends roughly from the Hungerford Bridge round to the National Theatre, encompassing the Royal Festival Hall, the Queen Elizabeth Hall, the Hayward Gallery, the National Film Theatre and the National Theatre, plus, of course, the glorious walk along the riverside.

If you are a member of the Urban Sketchers London Facebook group, do join the Facebook Messenger chat for whichever December sketchwalk you plan to attend, so we can alert you if there are any last minute changes of plan.

The day is free of charge, no need to book, just turn up with your art kit. And don't forget to wrap up really warm!

⚫ On Saturday 9 December the day is led by Sasala Wickramasinghe and John Swanson, and our meeting place is the entrance lobby of the National Theatre.

⚫ On Sunday 17 December the day is led by Sasala Wickramasinghe and Alison Gardiner, and our meeting place is the Level1 foyer of the Royal Festival Hall.

Scroll down to find details of meeting points and timings for each day.

If this is your first sketchwalk with us, welcome to Urban Sketchers London

Every sketchwalk 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!

Key times and meeting points

As it is the festive season, the Southbank Centre will be bustling, and -- heads up! -- we have two different meeting points for Saturday the 9th and Sunday the 17th. Here's a handy downloadable map that shows the layout of the area.

The National Theatre seen from Waterloo Bridge
Sketch by John Swanson

Saturday 9 December - National Theatre entrance lobby

The entrance is on the river side of the building, where the information desks are located. You are welcome to venture further into the building to sketch, but be ready to have your bags searched.

11 AM We will gather for a short briefing.

1 PM We will meet in the same location for a throwdown and group photo.

3.30 PM We'll convene once more in the same location for the final throwdown and group photo at the end of the sketching day.

Afterwards For those who would like to chat – and draw – for longer, we can stay in the bar area of the National Theatre.

Sunday 17 December - Royal Festival Hall (RFH)

We will meet in the Royal Festival Hall Level 1 foyer. If you use the entrance opposite the Hayward Gallery, you will find yourself in the Level 1 foyer. If you enter the building from the river side of the RFH, take the stairs down to Level 1. You can see the different levels of the Royal Festival Hall in this Southbank Centre access diagram.

11 AM We will gather for a short briefing. After the briefing you are welcome to venture further into the building to sketch, but be ready to have your bags searched.

1 PM We will meet in the same location for a throwdown and group photo.

3.30 PM We'll convene once more in the same location for the final throwdown and group photo at the end of the sketching day.

Afterwards For those who would like to chat – and draw – for longer, we can stay in the bar area of the Royal Festival Hall.

View of the South Bank
Sketch by Anthony Mark Peters

Options for drawing

The Southbank Centre architecture is spectacular, especially if you like concrete Brutalism, but there is much more. The Royal Festival Hall provides an elegant contrast, as do the bridges: Waterloo and Hungerford. The Christmas Market will be open, with stalls set up along the riverside selling Christmas gifts and food and drink, while under Waterloo Bridge you’ll find a large second-hand book market.

In the other direction there is the London Eye and the Jubilee Gardens, and of course there is always the River Thames, with views to the north bank, and the elegant lamp posts with leaping dolphins.

If it’s wet there is still plenty to draw, with public foyers in the Royal Festival Hall, the National Theatre, and the National Film Theatre/British Film Institute (BFI) -- all offering the chance to draw architecture and, especially, people.

Statue of Lawrence Olivier at the National Theatre
Sketch by John Swanson

Practical information

Travel

The Southbank Centre is three minutes’ walk from Waterloo Station, which is well served by mainline and Underground services. Alternatively, it’s a short walk over the footbridge from Charing Cross or Embankment stations.

Food and drink

There are many options for both. All the main venues -– the Royal Festival Hall, the National Theatre and the National Film Theatre -- have bars and cafés. The Christmas Market along the river has stalls selling takeaway food and drink, and on the Belvedere Road side of the Royal Festival Hall the Southbank Centre Food Market offers an enormous variety of hot food and drink.

Toilets

Public toilets are available in all the main venues. There are also public toilets on the riverside by the Jubilee gardens (the 'Jubiloo'), behind the children’s fairground merry-go-round.

Health and safety

Urban Sketchers London follow current health and safety guidelines, and we count on all our sketchers to do the same. As always, we keep an eye on developments concerning Covid, and even though restrictions have been lifted, we think it's sensible to do everything we can to keep ourselves and fellow sketchers safe when we're together. The risk of infection for outdoor events is low, but basic guidance still applies:

Please do not attend if you feel unwell

Wear a face covering when you're close to others

Give people space

Practise good hand hygiene.

Hashtags

Remember to tag us when you post your sketches on social media! And do be polite when posting online. We may be biased, but we think kindness comes naturally to urban sketchers -- so don't be shy, show your social media politesse at its best.

#urbansketcherslondon #usklondon

Location map

See you at the Christmas Market!

Coming soon: the Urban Sketchers London programme for 2024 -- watch for it!

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.

To remind - Let's draw the Wellcome Collection Sunday 19 November 2023

noreply@blogger.com (C Barlow Marrs SGFA) — Sat, 11 Nov 2023 07:30:00 +0000

The Wellcome Collection lobby and cafe
Sketch by Helen Hayhoe

This month we're drawing the Wellcome Collection, a free museum and library near Euston Station that aims to challenge how we all think and feel about health.

Wellcome Collection, 183 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE

This day is run by Helen Hayhoe and Sasala Wickramasinghe.

For all the details, check out our original blog post.

See you at the Wellcome Collection!

Coming soon: the Urban Sketchers London programme for 2024 -- watch for it!

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 the Wellcome Collection on either Saturday 4 November = or = Sunday 19 November 2023

noreply@blogger.com (C Barlow Marrs SGFA) — Fri, 27 Oct 2023 14:19:00 +0000

The Wellcome Collection cafe and foyer
Sketch by Helen Hayhoe

This month we're drawing the Wellcome Collection, a free museum and library near Euston Station that aims to challenge how we all think and feel about health.

Wellcome Collection, 183 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE

[ Helen Hayhoe writes ]

Through exhibitions, collections, live programming, digital media, broadcasting and publishing, the Wellcome Collection creates opportunities for people to think deeply about the connections between science, medicine, life and art. There are many opportunities to draw the fascinating objects of the collections, and to respond to the architecture of the building and the local area.

The day is free of charge, no need to book, just turn up with your art kit. Please use only dry media such as pencil when drawing inside the Collection.

This day is run by Helen Hayhoe and Sasala Wickramasinghe.

Main entrance of the Wellcome Collection
Photo by Helen Hayhoe

If this is your first sketchwalk with us, welcome to Urban Sketchers London!

We look forward to seeing you!

Key times and meeting points for the day

The Reading Room at the Wellcome Collection
Photo by Helen Hayhoe

11am

We will meet in the Reading Room, a hybrid of library and museum, on level 2.

1pm

Meet again in the Reading Room to look at drawings done in the morning and take a group photo.

3.30pm

Meet again in the Reading Room to review the day’s drawings and take our final group photograph.

Afterwards

We could continue to meet and talk in the Wellcome Collection cafe, or if people prefer a pub, the Royal George pub in Eversholt Street NW1 1DG is convenient.

Options for drawing

The Wellcome Collection has a wide range of options for drawing, including exhibits on current scientific issues, displays from the history of medicine world-wide, and artworks old and new related to the human body.

Several free exhibitions are showing at the time of our visits, and offer a multi-sensory experience to inform our sketches.

Genetic Automata is an ongoing body of video works by artists Larry Achiampong and David Blandy, exploring race and identity in an age of avatars, videogames and DNA ancestry.

Being Human explores what it means to be human in the 21st century. It reflects our hopes and fears about new forms of medical knowledge, and our changing relationships with ourselves, one other and the world.

The Cult of Beauty explores notions of beauty across time and cultures. Around the world, beauty is constantly seen as an ideal worthy of going to great lengths to achieve. But what are the driving forces that lead us to believe in a myth of universal beauty, despite its evolving nature?

The building itself is of interest: the ceiling of the ground floor features colour-changing lights and an upside-down Anthony Gormley sculpture. The shiny spiral staircase reflects light. Upstairs, the Reading Room provides sumptuous cushions to lounge on in a colourful and welcoming space.

Do bring dry materials to draw with, so that the collection is protected.

Amputation knives and saws from the 18th-19th centuries. Sketch by James Hobbs

The Collection may be busy when we are there, so please find spots to tuck yourself away.

Full details of the exhibitions and information about all aspects of the Collection can be found on their informative website.

It may be crowded, so be mindful of others, keep your distance, break into small groups, and use less busy areas of the Collection.

If anyone wants to draw out of doors, the exterior of this 1930s neo-classical building is an interesting prospect.

Another option is to walk down Gower Street, which has some varied University of London buildings, or walk down Gordon Street to Gordon Square, where there are former homes of many of the writers, philosophers and artists of the Bloomsbury Group.

The bustle of Euston station is a few minutes away.

The spiraling staircase in the Wellcome Collection foyer
Sketch by John Trotman

Practical information

Comprehensive information for visitors is available on the Wellcome Collection website.

Admission is free, and at the weekend the galleries are open from 10am to 6pm.

There is a cafe and a shop, a cloakroom with free lockers, and toilets. In the galleries there are some folding stools and seating.

Access

The Wellcome Collection is committed to making their building, services and programme as accessible and inclusive as possible. See their website for detailed accessibility information. According to the website, if you need a member of staff to meet you at a nearby station and help you make your way to the building, you can contact their Visitor Experience Team by phone or by email.

Food and drink

The Wellcome Collection cafe serves a selection of sandwiches, cakes and hot and cold drinks. There are many other food and drink outlets in the area, especially in and around Euston Station.

Getting to the Wellcome Collection

The street address is 183 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE, almost opposite Euston station. It is very easy to travel to the Collection by Tube, train, bus and bike -- for details you can use Transport for London’s journey planner.

Public transport

The nearest stations are Euston Square (three minutes on foot), Euston (seven minutes on foot), Warren Street (a seven minute walk), St Pancras (one kilometre away, the nearest step-free station) and King's Cross.

By bus

The bus stop outside the Collection is currently out of use, but these buses stop close to the main entrance at 183 Euston Road:

•18, 30, 73, 205, 390.

London buses have space for a wheelchair user, low floors and an access ramp. Find out more about accessible journeys from Transport for London.

By bike

There are bike stands near the main entrance at 183 Euston Road and in nearby Gordon Street. There are also bike docking stations nearby.

By car

There is limited parking available for Blue Badge holders. Please contact the Visitor Experience Team by phone or by email to book a space.

Health and safety

Urban Sketchers London follow current health and safety guidelines, and we count on all our sketchers to do the same. As always, we keep an eye on developments concerning Covid, and even though restrictions have been lifted, we think it's sensible to do everything we can to keep ourselves and fellow sketchers safe when we're together. The risk of infection for outdoor events is low, but basic guidance still applies:

Please do not attend if you feel unwell

Wear a face covering when you're close to others

Give people space

Practise good hand hygiene.

Hashtags

Remember to tag us when you post your sketches on social media! And do be polite when posting online. We may be biased, but we think kindness comes naturally to urban sketchers -- so don't be shy, show your social media politesse at its best.

#urbansketcherslondon #usklondon

Location map

See you at the Wellcome Collection!

Let's draw London in 2023 -- Find the rest of our programme for the year here. Coming soon: the Urban Sketchers London programme for 2024 -- watch for it!

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.

To remind: Let's draw Brixton - Saturday 21 October 2023

noreply@blogger.com (C Barlow Marrs SGFA) — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 20:21:00 +0000

Foxes and cherries - the eye-catching sculpture atop Brixton market
Sketch by Catherine Bardrick

'We're gonna rock down to Electric Avenue'* and draw Brixton, the British capital of Afro-Caribbean culture with an eclectic mix of Victorian architecture and a vibrant multi-cultural marketplace.

If you missed the first Brixton sketchwalk, come join us on Saturday 21 October 2023.

For details, see the original blog post.

The day is led by Rachel Bone and Dean Ashton

See you in Brixton!

Let's draw London in 2023 -- Find the rest of our programme for the year here. Coming soon: the Urban Sketchers London programme for 2024 -- watch for it!

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 Brixton on either Sunday 8 October = or = Saturday 21 October 2023

noreply@blogger.com (C Barlow Marrs SGFA) — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 10:39:00 +0000

Foxes and cherries - the eye-catching sculpture atop Brixton market
Sketch by Catherine Bardrick

In October 'we're gonna rock down to Electric Avenue'* and draw Brixton, the British capital of Afro-Caribbean culture with an eclectic mix of Victorian architecture and a vibrant multi-cultural marketplace.

[Dean Ashton writes]

NB: This month we're switching things around. Our first Brixton sketchwalk takes place on Sunday 8 October, run by Dean Ashton and Catherine Bardrick. The second visit on Saturday 21 October is hosted by Rachel Bone and Dean Ashton.

On both days we'll be based at Windrush Square, named after the ship that brought immigrants to Britain from the West Indies in 1948, marking the beginning of multicultural society in modern-day Britain.

*The reggae-influenced pop song Electric Avenue topped the charts way back in 1983.

If this is your first sketchwalk with us, welcome to Urban Sketchers London!

We look forward to seeing you!

Key times and meeting points

Scroll down for a location map for this sketchwalk

11 am

We will meet in Windrush Square SW2 1JX, opposite Brixton Tate Library and The Ritzy, Brixton's restored 1911 cinema with cafe and bar.

In the event of severe wet weather, we'll relocate to the covered walkway behind Brixton Underground station. Sign up to the Brixton sketchwalk FB chat for live updates.

1 pm

Return to Windrush Square for the first throwdown and group photo.

3.30 pm

Meet again on Windrush Square for the final throwdown.

Afterwards

We'll head back towards the station and have a few drinks at The Beehive pub at 407-409 Brixton Rd SW9 7DG. It's a two minute walk, to the right of the Underground station.

Options for drawing

Windrush Square - You can stick around our starting point to sketch views of the grand Edwardian Lambeth Town Hall, the Greek Doric-style St Matthews Church or the Grade II-listed Brixton Tate Library. And at No. 1 Windrush Square you'll find Raleigh Hall, a Grade II-listed Georgian building that now houses the Black Cultural Archives.

Lambeth Town Hall
Photo by Dean Ashton

Electric Avenue - The first market street in the country to be wired for electricity. Here you'll find colourful independent shops, food in every rainbow colour for sale, and look up to see the cheeky fox sculptures scavenging cherries -- a public art installation by local artist Lucy Casson.

Foxes and cherries in Electric Avenue
Sketch by Catherine Bardrick

Brixton Village - More colour, African print fabrics and even more colourful shop fronts, as well as food outlets like the Brixton Laundry turned all day bistro and wine shop.

Brixton Village
Photo by Dean Ashton

David Bowie Memorial - A must-visit memorial for the singer/songwriter, who spent his early childhood in the area. It's opposite Brixton Underground station, alongside Morley's Department Store.

The Railway Hotel
Sketch by Dean Ashton

Practical information

Food and drink and conveniences

There are plenty of local cafes, fast food joints and international food shops and stalls -- or you can head to Brixton Village for a bit of quinoa and smashed avocado.

The nearest public toilets are in Brixton Village at the end of Electric Avenue (Popes Road Toilets). There are also lavatories in the local fast food chains, Brixton Tate Library (from 12:00 Sun) and Morleys Department Store (from 12:00 Sun).

Public transport

The nearest station is Brixton, which serves mainline trains (Southeastern Railway) and London Underground (Victoria line). The station is a three minute walk from our meeting point at Windrush Square.

Accessibility

Please let us know if you will need accessibility support on the day. Brixton Village is fully accessible. Brixton station is wheelchair accessible, and has step-free access from the street to the train. For information on accessibility across London Underground, there is a downloadable Transport for London Step-free Tube Guide. And for details of specific locations in this sketchwalk, there is AccessAble.

Health and safety

Urban Sketchers London follow current health and safety guidelines, and we count on all our sketchers to do the same. As always, we keep an eye on developments concerning Covid, and even though restrictions have been lifted, we think it's sensible to do everything we can to keep ourselves and fellow sketchers safe when we're together. The risk of infection for outdoor events is low, but basic guidance still applies:

Please do not attend if you feel unwell

Wear a face covering when you're close to others

Give people space

Practise good hand hygiene.

Hashtags

Remember to tag us when you post your sketches on social media! And do be polite when posting online. We may be biased, but we think kindness comes naturally to urban sketchers -- so don't be shy, show your social media politesse at its best.

#urbansketcherslondon #usklondon

Location map

See you at Brixton!

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.

To remind: Let's draw Chiswick Riverside - Saturday 30 September 2023

noreply@blogger.com (C Barlow Marrs SGFA) — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 08:14:00 +0000

Urban Sketchers London in Totally Thames 2022
This will be the throwdown location for 2023
Photo by Sam Mills

In September we return to the Thames riverside around Chiswick Pier as part of Totally Thames 2023 organised by the Thames Festival Trust.

The day is run by Helen Hayhoe and Sasala Wickramasinghe.

This month is a collaboration between the Thames Festival Trust and Urban Sketchers London, hosted by the Chiswick Pier Trust. We are part of the Totally Thames Festival, which brings a bonus to both our organisations.

If you missed the original blog post, don't worry -- you'll find all the details here.

And for those of you who follow Urban Sketchers London on Facebook, each of our sketchwalk events now has its own chat group. This helps us stay in touch with you on the day if, for some reason, there is a last minute change of plan. So do join the chat, and let's stay in touch.

See you at Chiswick Pier!

Let's draw London in 2023 -- Find our full programme here.
Coming soon: the Urban Sketchers London programme for 2024 -- watch for it!

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 Chiswick Riverside - Saturday 30 September 2023

noreply@blogger.com (C Barlow Marrs SGFA) — Sat, 23 Sep 2023 17:47:00 +0000

Urban Sketchers London in Totally Thames 2022
This will be the throwdown location for 2023
Photo by Sam Mills

In September we return to the Thames riverside around Chiswick Pier as part of Totally Thames 2023 organised by the Thames Festival Trust.

[Helen Hayhoe writes]

We have as our base The Pier House, nestled on the towpath at Chiswick Pier. The Trust is generously providing a hall space with seating, loos, a kettle and a weatherproof space if needed for each of our three throwdowns. The Pier House itself has some resources we can use, including some stools for sketching and a coffee wagon.

The Pier House, our meeting point
Photo by Sam Mills

There are varied opportunities for sketching. Chiswick Pier is the location of several interesting houseboats. The view up and down the river is broad and breathtaking. A five-minute walk takes you to Dukes Meadows, a bio-diverse mix of riverside towpath, woodland and open meadow. At its heart is the Dukes Meadows Bandstand which provides both an interesting subject and shelter if needed. The whole area has terracing that provides convenient seating.

The day is free of charge. You can book your free ticket here or here, which will allow you to receive urban sketching support information via email.

The day is led by Helen Hayhoe and Sasala Wickramasinghe.

If this is your first sketchwalk with us, welcome to Urban Sketchers London!

We look forward to seeing you!

Key times and meeting points

11 AM

We will meet at The Pier House, Corney Reach Way, Chiswick, London W4 2UG.

This is situated on the towpath next to Chiswick Pier. The Pier House is about 15 minutes' walk from Barnes Bridge and Chiswick Stations. A large room will be available to us, with light refreshments and loos available. You will spot the RNLI lifeboat station above the building; our entrance is on the ground floor. We will meet outside if the weather is fine.

Details of the location and how to get there are at the end of this post.

1 PM

Meet again at The Pier House for a group photo and throwdown. This year we will place our work on the steps by the pier, as seen in the group photo above. If wet, we can have our throwdown inside Pier House.

3.30 PM

Meet at the same place for the final throwdown.

Afterwards

For those who would like to stay on for a drink and chat (and sketch!) the Barnes Riverside offers several pubs, including The White Hart, just over the railway bridge by Barnes Bridge Station.

Pre-visit activities

One of the aims of the collaboration with Thames Festival Trust is to engage people with the riverside, and sketching is a wonderful way to do this. Together we aim to provide people with information about urban sketching and how to start. When you register for a free ticket, you will be sent resources to support you in joining the Urban Sketchers London group on a ‘sketchwalk’.

Options for drawing

The view from Chiswick Pier
Sketch by Joyce Smith

The riverside at Chiswick Pier - The location at Chiswick Pier provides a wealth of variety. The pier itself hosts colourful houseboats and from here you can see panoramic views of the river towards Hammersmith in one direction and Mortlake in the other.

Victory
Sketch by Sasala Wickramasinghe

Chiswick Church Street - A pretty village-like street with a few crooked old buildings. It's hard to imagine that the monstrous Hogarth Roundabout and the A4 are just one block north of that location! The original village of Chiswick grew around St Nicholas Church on the river, St Nicholas being the patron saint of sailors and fishermen.

Chiswick Church Street
Sketch by Jimmy Lu

Dukes Meadows - A five minute walk takes you to Dukes Meadows, a mix of riverside towpath, woodland and open meadow. The Dukes Meadows Trust led the regeneration of the meadows to create a beautiful riverside park. Starting in 2000 the trust has raised over £1 million to create fabulous play areas and has planted hedgerows, wildflower meadows and an orchard to increase the bio-diversity of the park. Hailed as a model of sustainability, the trust has established successful social enterprises that generate revenue to maintain the improvements made. Volunteers run the trust and help maintain the park. At its heart is The Dukes Meadow Bandstand, which provides both an interesting subject and shelter if needed. The whole area has terracing that provides convenient seating overlooking the riverside.

Dukes Meadows
Photo by Helen Hayhoe

The Bandstand
Sketch and photo by Sam Mills

Barnes Bridge - A 15 minute walk away on the other side of Dukes Meadows. Architecturally splendid, it also boasts some great graffiti and a fabulous view. There are some distinctive houses across the river, and a walk across the bridge provides you with another stunning perspective.

Graffiti on Barnes Bridge
Photo by Helen Hayhoe

Practical information

The location of this sketchwalk is Chiswick Pier Trust, The Pier House, Corney Reach Way, Chiswick, London W4 2UG -- away from the bustle, but not inaccessible.

Getting there

By public transport

Chiswick and Barnes Bridge railway stations are each about a 15 minute walk from The Pier House. The stations are on the Hounslow/Weybridge to Waterloo line. For departure and arrival times please visit South Western Railway.

The E3 and 190 buses stop close by on the A316. For their routes, locations of bus stops and real-time bus locations, please visit 190 and E3.

By car

Chiswick Pier and The Pier House are in Corney Reach Way, off the roundabout at the end of Corney Road and Edensor Road, Chiswick. The Pier House entrance faces onto the riverside piazza. The site of what used to be Pissarro’s restaurant is immediately next door upstream, along the riverside walkway.

There is little parking at The Pier House, but there is free parking on Pumping Station Road, and some parking bays at Dukes Meadows on Riverside Drive. There are also parking bays opposite the riverfront on The Promenade.

Food and drink and conveniences

The splendid Coffee-bike has been invited to serve our needs. It is situated near the Pier House until 4pm, serving organic coffee specialties as well as tea, mocha and hot chocolate.

On the riverside towards Dukes Meadows there is a little cafe, and the pubs and cafes of Barnes are over the railway bridge.

Toilets are available at The Pier House.

The Coffee-bike
Sketch by Helen Hayhoe

Accessibility

Please let us know if you will need accessibility support on the day. The area is flat and has good paths throughout. Barnes Rail Bridge is only accessible via steps, The Pie House is a 15 minute riverside walk downstream (towards Hammersmith Bridge) from here.

For information on accessibility across London Underground, there is a downloadable Transport for London Step-free Tube Guide.

Health and safety

Urban Sketchers London follow current health and safety guidelines, and we count on all our sketchers to do the same. As always, we keep an eye on developments concerning Covid, and even though restrictions have been lifted, we think it's sensible to do everything we can to keep ourselves and fellow sketchers safe when we're together. The risk of infection for outdoor events is low, but basic guidance still applies:

Please do not attend if you feel unwell

Wear a face covering when you're close to others

Give people space

Practise good hand hygiene.

Hashtags

Remember to tag us when you post your sketches on social media! And do be polite when posting online. We may be biased, but we think kindness comes naturally to urban sketchers -- so don't be shy, show your social media politesse at its best.

#urbansketcherslondon #usklondon

Location map

See you at Chiswick Riverside!

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.

To remind: Let's draw Harrow-on-the-Hill on Saturday 23 September 2023

noreply@blogger.com (C Barlow Marrs SGFA) — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 16:20:00 +0000

Harrow High Street meets West Street
Sketch by Madeleine Brennan

In September we will draw Harrow-on-the-Hill, a charming historic village in West London best known for the prestigious Harrow School.

The day is run by Madeleine Brennan, Sue Woodisse and Zane Karklina.

If you missed the original blog post, don't worry -- you'll find all the details here.

And if you follow Urban Sketchers London on Facebook, you might have noticed each of our sketchwalk events now has its own chat group. This helps us stay in touch with you on the day if for some reason there is a last minute change of plans. That can happen in locations like this one, where there is little rainy-day shelter for our group throwdowns. But urban sketchers are a hearty bunch, so join the chat and let's stay in touch!

See you at Harrow-on-the-Hill!

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 Harrow-on-the-Hill -- Saturday 23 September 2023

noreply@blogger.com (C Barlow Marrs SGFA) — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 11:31:00 +0000

Harrow High Street meets West Street
Sketch by Madeleine Brennan

In September we will draw Harrow-on-the-Hill, a charming historic village in West London best known for the prestigious Harrow School.

[Madeleine Brennan writes]

Harrow-on-the-Hill is a charming and historic area located in West London. Perched atop a prominent hill, it offers stunning views of the surrounding areas and the City in the far distance. Known for its rich heritage and architectural beauty, Harrow-on-the-Hill boasts a mix of quaint cottages, grand Georgian houses and impressive landmarks.

The area is known for its prestigious Harrow School, with 450 years of history, one of the most renowned boarding schools in the country, which adds to the cultural and academic richness of the neighbourhood. Visitors can explore the beautiful architecture of the old buildings, stroll along the quaint streets, and enjoy the tranquil green spaces, such as the Harrow Hill Park and Churchfields.

With its vibrant history and rich architectural importance, Harrow-on-the-Hill promises to be an adventurous destination for USK London, one that shouldn't be missed.

The day is run by Madeleine Brennan, Sue Woodisse and Zane Karklina.

If this is your first sketchwalk with us, welcome to Urban Sketchers London!

We look forward to seeing you!

Key times and meeting points

11 am

Join us at 11am on the steps of the Harrow School War Memorial, a Neo Jacobean building with a shrine honouring former pupils of Harrow School who died in the First World War. Decades later the same building served as a bomb shelter for the school during WWII. We will meet near the bus stop for Harrow School, between High Street and Church Street.

You will find all of our meeting points and key features of the sketchwalk in the location map at the end of this post.

There aren't many options for shelter in the village if it's wet on the day, so we will keep an eye on the weather and be prepared!

1 pm

We will return to the war memorial building for our first throwdown and group photo.

3.30 pm

For our final throwdown and group photo we will gather at the Henry VIII gantry on the village green.

Afterwards

After our sketchwalk we will go for drinks -- and perhaps even a bit more sketching! -- to The Castle at no. 30 West Street, an authentic Victorian pub with original features and a large garden.

St Mary's Church
Sketch by Madeleine Brennan

Options for drawing

Harrow School - The school offers numerous historic buildings on the High Street and Church Hill that are delight to sketching. From the Gothic Revival charm of the Harrow School Chapel and the neo-Gothic facade of the Old Speech Room Gallery to the eclectic style of the Vaughan Library, each structure presents its own architectural interest.

St Mary’s Church - Consecrated by St. Anselm in 1094 with a notable 12th-century tower, the church holds a fascinating history within its graveyard, featuring tombstones of interest, including the Leighton family's mosaic-adorned monument and a diverse array of crosses, while also being renowned as a place where the poet Lord Byron would sit and compose verse atop a tomb beside an elm tree, reflecting on the surrounding countryside that he affectionately called the "spot of my youth". Tragically, it is also the final resting place of Byron's daughter Allegra, who passed away at a young age and was buried in an unmarked grave on the churchyard grounds, marking a poignant connection to the poet's own eventual demise.

High Street - One of the most iconic views in Harrow-on-the-Hill is found at the junction where West Street and High Street meet, where a charming fountain, accompanied by a Hill Shop’s clock, serves as a focus. This location captures the essence of Harrow's unique character, with its hilly terrain causing the roads to split and meander. The scene offers a picturesque glimpse into the town's history and charm, allowing visitors to enjoy the vibrant atmosphere and appreciate the architectural beauty that surrounds this notable intersection. Exploring the surrounding streets reveals a captivating array of architectural delights, ranging from Georgian townhouses to Victorian-era structures, providing a diverse and inspiring urban landscape for sketchers.

The King's Head gantry - At the southern edge of the hill, you'll find a small green adorned with a hanging gantry and a portrait of Henry VIII. This green is home to the King's Head Hotel (now flats), constructed in 1770 on the site where Henry VIII's hunting lodge once stood. The combination of historical significance, the unique hanging gantry, and the green surroundings make this area an intriguing subject for further sketching.

Battels Arts Cafe
Sketch by Madeleine Brennan

Practical information

Food and drink

There are a number of cafes in the High Street: Battels Arts Café at no. 64, Dolls House on the Hill vintage cafe at no. 44 with both pavement and indoor seating, and Eighty-Six restaurant and bar at no. 86 with a garden.

Getting there

By public transport

Harrow-on-the-Hill is easily accessible by mainline trains (Chiltern Railways), London Underground via the Metropolitan Line (Harrow-on-the-Hill Station) or the Piccadilly Line (South Harrow Station and Sudbury Hill Station), and by bus (routes 258 and H17). Harrow School and the village are a steep uphill walk from local stations, so whether you travel by train, Tube or car, we urge you to save your energy for sketching, and take a short bus ride to our meeting point at the war memorial.

From Harrow-on-the-Hill station (7 minutes)

To find the bus station, turn right after you come through the ticket barriers and go down the steps -- the bus station will be on your left. Go to bus stop C, take the 258 or H17 bus towards Wembley Central, and alight at Harrow School. From there the war memorial building is a one minute walk.

From South Harrow station (8 minutes)

Go to bus stop B, take the 258 bus towards Watford, alight at Harrow School and walk to the memorial building.

From Sudbury Hill station (8 minutes)

Go to bus stop V, take the H17 bus to Harrow, alight at Harrow School and walk to the war memorial building.

By car

The village streets are narrow, and parking on the hill is limited. But there is parking at Harrow-on-the-Hill station (Saturdays £3) and at the St George and St Ann shopping centres nearby, where food and toilet facilities are also available.

Even if you arrive by car, it is advisable to take the H17 or 258 bus from stop C at the bus station as the hill is VERY steep. If you prefer to go on foot, please allow 15 minutes to reach the meeting point, but be aware that it is a steep uphill climb. After passing through the ticket barriers at the station, take the exit on the left. At the end of the service road, make another left turn, and then take the first right to go up Grove Hill.

Accessibility

Please let us know if you will need accessibility support on the day. There is step-free access at Harrow-on-the-Hill station, but there are no accessible toilets. Sudbury Hill station is also step-free. For more information on accessibility in general across London Underground, there is a downloadable Transport for London Step-free Tube Guide. Accessibility information for specific locations in our Harrow sketchwalk may be available at AccessAble.

Health and safety

Urban Sketchers London follow current health and safety guidelines, and we count on all our sketchers to do the same. As always, we keep an eye on developments concerning Covid, and even though restrictions have been lifted, we think it's sensible to do everything we can to keep ourselves and fellow sketchers safe when we're together. The risk of infection for outdoor events is low, but basic guidance still applies:

Please do not attend if you feel unwell
Wear a face covering when you're close to others
Give people space
Practise good hand hygiene.

Hashtags

Remember to tag us when you post your sketches on social media! And do be polite when posting online. We may be biased, but we think kindness comes naturally to urban sketchers -- so go on, show your social media politesse at its best.

#urbansketcherslondon #usklondon

St Mary's Church
Sketch by Madeleine Brennan

Location map

See you at Harrow-on-the-Hill!

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 Mayfair - Saturday 19 August or Sunday 3 September 2023

noreply@blogger.com (C Barlow Marrs SGFA) — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 20:22:00 +0000

Mercato Mayfair
Sketch by Isabel Carmona

Join us to sketch in Mayfair
on either of the dates above.

From Oxford Street to Piccadilly, and Hyde Park to Regent Street, Mayfair is filled with Georgian architecture and high-end shopping, parks and people, and blue plaques, including one for Jimmy Hendrix and another for Simon Bolivar. There is no shortage of subjects to draw, and we invite you to join us for either the August or early September session.

The sketchwalk on 19 August will be run by Isabel Carmona and Peggy Wong, and on Sunday 3 September Andrea Deng and Peggy Wong will lead the way.

Your Mayfair sketchwalk leaders on 19 August
Peggy Wong (left) and Isabel Carmona

If this is your first sketchwalk with us, welcome to Urban Sketchers London

We look forward to seeing you!

Meeting point

We will meet at Brown Hart Gardens, an elevated park very near Oxford Street, at the Selfridges end (see our lovely hand drawn map below, and scroll to the end of this post for the Google map version). From here it is possible to walk/sketch anywhere in the area.

Let's draw Mayfair
Sketch map by Peggy Wong

Key times and meeting points

11am

We will meet in the raised terrace garden at Brown Hart Gardens, a small public space between Duke Street and Balderton Street. There are steps at either end in Duke Street, and opposite the entrance to the Beaumont Hotel in Balderton Street. There is a platform lift for wheelchair access on the north side of the square.

1pm

Meet back at Brown Hart Gardens for the lunchtime throwdown and group photo.

3:30pm

Meet at the same place for the afternoon throwdown and group photo to finish the day.

Afterwards

We suggest the Mercato Mayfair for a drink and more drawing from 4pm.

The Mercato Mayfair
Sketch by Peggy Wong

Options for drawing

Brown Hart Gardens -- A terrace garden on the roof of a Grade II-listed 'Edwardian Baroque' electricity sub-station. The garden is surrounded by beautiful architecture and buildings -- you can even try a 360 degree sketch! At one end is The Beaumont, one of London's most expensive hotels, originally built in 1926 as an Art Deco-style parking garage.

The terrace garden at Brown Hart Gardens
Photo by Isabel Carmona

The Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral at Duke Street and Weighhouse Street
Photo by Isabel Carmona

Grosvenor Square - The second largest garden square in London, featuring Georgian and neo-Georgian architecture, and the former American embassy designed in 1960 in proto-Brutalist style by Eero Saarinen.

South Molton Street - A pedestrianised shopping street just off Bond Street station, with plenty of interesting boutiques, cafes and people to sketch.

Mercato Mayfair - A 'cultural hub of sustainable authentic food' in the Grade 1-listed deconsecrated St Mark's church in North Audley Street. There are eateries over two floors featuring global cuisine and interesting views inside and out. NB: We will meet here for drinks at the end of the day.

The Mercato Mayfair
Sketch by Isabel Carmona

Mount Street Gardens - A public garden in a quieter part of Mayfair south of Grosvenor Square, near the Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception. Originally the site of a burial ground, the garden features paths lined with benches (the perfect perch for urban sketchers!) as well as Grade II-listed structures, including two K2 kiosks, Britain's first red Telephone Box designed by Sir Gilbert Scott.
Berkeley Square - One of the best known garden squares in London, Berkeley Square is surrounded by grand townhouses and is on the register of Historic Parks and Gardens.
Curzon Street - Home to the Curzon Mayfair Cinema and Shepherd Market, a quaint, village-like pedestrianised square with no shortage of boutiques, Victorian pubs and outdoor cafes (some very upmarket).

Practical information

Food and drink and conveniences

There are plenty of food options at Mercato Mayfair, South Molton Street, Oxford Street -- and just about everywhere!

Public transport

The nearest Tube stations to our meeting point are Marble Arch on the Central Line, or Bond Street on the Central, Jubilee and Elizabeth Lines. There are plenty of buses along Oxford Street.

Accessibility

There is a platform lift for wheelchair access to the elevated part of Brown Hart Gardens on the north side of the square. Accessibility information for other locations in our Mayfair sketchwalk are available at AccessAble. Please let us know if you will need accessibility support on the day.

Covid guidance

Urban Sketchers London remains alert to national guidance about COVID-19 and its variants. Even though restrictions have been lifted, it's sensible to take all necessary precautions to keep ourselves and fellow sketchers safe throughout the event. The risk of infection for outdoor events is low, but basic guidance still applies:

Please do not attend if you feel unwell
Wear a face covering when you're close to others
Give people space
Practise good hand hygiene.

Further information

If you're new to Urban Sketchers London, have a look at Mike Whalley's brief history of the international Urban Sketchers movement.

Location map

See you in Mayfair!

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.

To remind: Let's draw Wimbledon Village on Sunday 6 August 2023

noreply@blogger.com (C Barlow Marrs SGFA) — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 15:34:00 +0000

Wimbledon Village
Sketch by Kristine Appleton

If you missed the first Wimbledon Village sketchwalk last month, come join us on Sunday 6 August.

Wimbledon Village is renowned for its charm, history and association with the iconic Wimbledon Tennis Tournament. An elegant enclave on a hill, the Village has well preserved period buildings and a delightful mix of amenities, independent boutiques and charming pubs and cafes. In this sketchwalk we have an opportunity to capture the bustling atmosphere of the village itself, or commune with nature amid the leafy greenery of Wimbledon Common nearby.

For all the details, please see the original blog post.

The day is run by Inga Knysh, Patricia Burbidge and Zane Karklina

Join the Wimbledon Village sketchwalk group chat for last minute updates

If you follow Urban Sketchers London on Facebook, you might have noticed each of our sketchwalk events now has its own chat group. If you join the Wimbledon Village sketchwalk chat, we can stay in touch with you on the day and let you know of any last minute changes of plan. That's especially important for locations like this one, where there is no rainy-day shelter for our group throwdowns. But urban sketchers are a hearty bunch, so join the chat and let's stay in touch!

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 Wimbledon Village - Saturday 22 July or Sunday 6 August 2023

noreply@blogger.com (C Barlow Marrs SGFA) — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 16:17:00 +0000

Wimbledon Village
Sketch by Kristine Appleton

In July and August we will draw Wimbledon Village, a picturesque and affluent neighbourhood renowned for its charm, history and association with the iconic Wimbledon Tennis Tournament.

Wimbledon Village is an elegant enclave on a hill with well preserved period buildings and a delightful mix of amenities, independent boutiques and charming pubs and cafes. In this sketchwalk we have an opportunity to capture the bustling atmosphere of the village itself, or commune with nature amid the leafy greenery of Wimbledon Common nearby.

The day is run by Inga Knysh, Patricia Burbidge and Zane Karklina.

If this is your first sketchwalk with us, welcome to Urban Sketchers London!

We look forward to seeing you!

Meeting point at 11 am

We will gather by the Wimbledon War Memorial (scroll down to see our location map). Please note: at the War Memorial there are no options for shelter in case of rain, so if on the day it is wet, we will break with Urban Sketchers tradition and forego the traditional throwdown.

Wimbledon War Memorial - Our meeting point for the day
Photo by Zane Karklina

Options for drawing

Wimbledon Village - There are many historic buildings to sketch, from the High Street at the Toynbee Fountain to the Wimbledon War Memorial, down Church Street as well as other streets in the area. In the centre of the village are the old Fire Station, the Dog & Fox pub and hotel, and many more buildings of historical interest, with charming cafes, boutiques and galleries for shelter in case of rain.

The Ivy, Wimbledon Village
Sketch by Patricia Burbidge

Wimbledon Common - Wimbledon and Putney Commons comprise 1140 acres of open land with heath, woodland, streams and ponds -- a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to its importance to wildlife. Wimbledon Common is kept in a natural state, so while there are many footpaths, mainly unpaved, be aware there are also bogs, ditches and brambles. You can download a detailed map of the Common in pdf format. You'll find our War Memorial meeting point in the lower right hand corner of the map.

Wimbledon Windmill - A 15 - 20 minute walk through Wimbledon Common woodlands, the Windmill offers a museum of local history with memorabilia of the local milling industry and scouting, as well as a cafe and toilets. The Museum is open Saturdays 2pm - 5pm and Sundays 11am - 5pm. Admission is free. Next to the Windmill is Windmill Tearooms, who specialise in appetising homemade produce. They are open Saturdays 9am - 5.45pm and Sundays 9.00 - 6.15pm. The kitchen closes at 3.30pm.

Wimbledon Windmill
Sketch by Martin Lore

Cannizaro Park - A beautiful 34-acre Grade ll listed park that includes historic landscape features with formal gardens, as well as water and herb gardens and a vast collection of trees. The park is about a 10 minute walk across the Common, and is open from 9am until dusk. The main entrance is on West Side Common SW19 4UE. A coffee van is usually run from 10.30am - 4pm, and the public toilet is open from 9.30am - 5 pm. For more details you can download a map of Cannizaro Park in pdf format.

Thai Buddhapapida Temple - This ornate temple with its traditional Thai-style gilded roof is a 10 - 15 minute walk from the Wimbledon War Memorial. Set in a four-acre garden with statues and an ornamental pond, it was the first Thai Buddhist temple to be built in the U.K. Weekday services inside the temple and shrine itself are by appointment only, but the grounds are open from 9 - 5.30 daily for visitors to explore. NB: As the temple is a place of worship in daily use, remember to be respectful of the people who come to worship. We ask in particular that sketchers take care not to overpopulate the steps leading to the temple.

The view of London's skyline from Marryat Road - About a five minute walk down Marryat Road you will have a glimpse of London's skyscrapers. It’s a limited view from the pavement, so you might need to stand to see and sketch the scene.

The London skyline from Marryat Road
Photo by Zane Karklina

Key times and meeting points

11am

The Wimbledon War Memorial will be our meeting point through the day. As there is no option for shelter in this area, we will keep an eye on the weather and be prepared to adapt as the day unfolds.

1pm

Return to the War Memorial for our group photo and -- weather permitting -- the throwdown. Urban Sketchers aren't shy about a little drizzle, but if it's a wet day we will pose for the group photo and bravely forego the throwndown(s).

3.30 pm

Meet again at the War Memorial for the group photo and -- fingers crossed -- the throwdown.

Afterwards

We will go to the Rose and Crown pub -- about 400m from the War Memorial -- for drinks and conversation, and perhaps even more sketching!

Practical information

Food and drink and conveniences

There is no shortage of cafes and pubs in the village, and on Wimbledon Common the Windmill Tearooms are situated next door to Wimbledon Windmill. During our Sunday session on 6 August the Wimbledon Farmers Market will be set up in the High Street from 10am - 3pm, with fresh produce, cakes, artisan bread and ready to eat picnic food.

Toilets are available in nearby pubs and cafes. The Wimbledon Windmill has wheelchair-accessible toilets.

Cafe life, Wimbledon Village
Sketch by Inga Knysh

Public transport

Wimbledon Station is easily accessible by London Underground via the District Line and Tramlink, by National Rail via South Western Railway, and via bus routes 200 and 93.

Our meeting place at the Wimbledon War Memorial is a 20 minute walk uphill from the station. If you prefer to save your energy for sketching, when you arrive at Wimbledon Station go to bus stop L and take the no. 93 bus to the War Memorial, alighting at bus stop R. Or take the no. 200 bus to Wimbledon Village/Ridgeway, alight at bus stop N and walk five minutes to the War Memorial.

Accessibility

Detailed and up to date accessibility information is available at the online guide AccessAble. That's where our research led us when we wanted to find out, for example, how accessible the footpaths are in Wimbledon Common. Most footpaths in the Common are wide enough for wheelchair users and consist of compact earth, gravel and muddy surface. Slopes on the paths range from slight to moderate and steep, and there are benches along the paths where visitors can rest. You can look up accessibility information for specific venues in Wimbledon Village as well.

Covid guidance

Please do not attend if you feel unwell
Wear a face covering when you're close to others
Give people space
Practise good hand hygiene.

Further information

If you're new to Urban Sketchers London, have a look at Mike Whalley's brief history of the international Urban Sketchers movement.

Location map

See you at Wimbledon Village!

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 Fleet Street - Saturday 8 July 2023

noreply@blogger.com (C Barlow Marrs SGFA) — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 12:50:00 +0000

The Cheshire Cheese Pub near St Clement Danes
(not to be confused with Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese pub in Fleet Street!)
Sketch by Pete Scully

Hello! This week we invite you to explore Fleet Street and the surrounding area.

Fleet Street has a long history of printing and publishing, and is also known as the home of London’s newspaper industry. The street is long and dense, featuring many architecturally interesting buildings of various styles, such as the Art Deco Daily Express Building on the corner of Fleet Street and Shoe Street and, further east in Ludgate Hill, the English Baroque edifice of St. Paul’s Cathedral.

The day is run by Akira Yamanaka and Adam Topór.

If this is your first sketchwalk with us, welcome to Urban Sketchers London!

We look forward to seeing you!

Lets' draw London in 2023

Meeting point at 11 am

We will gather in St Bride’s Passage (see photo below and point A on the local walking route map below). If it's wet on the day there are few options for shelter in the Fleet Street area, so let's keep an eye on the weather and be prepared.

St Bride's Passage
Photo by Akira Yamanaka

Key times and meeting points

11 am

We meet in St Bride’s Passage for introductions, instructions and orientation (see photo above, local map below and, at the end of the blog post, the Location Map for the sketchwalk).

1pm

We will have our first throwdown and group photo at Victoria Embankment Gardens (point B on the map below) which is next to the Temple Underground Station. It’s a 10 minute walk from St Bride’s Passage.

Walking route between St Bride's Passage (A)
and Victoria Embankment Gardens (B)

3:30pm

We’re meeting again at Victoria Embankment Gardens for the second throwdown and group photo to conclude the day.

Afterwards

Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese in Fleet Street is 'an historic gem of a pub' with sawdust on the floor and a close association with Charles Dickens, WB Yeats and other famous literary types. It's a good option for those wishing to meet up for a drink and a chat after the sketchwalk, mainly for the unique and historic atmosphere of its underground cellar rooms and bar. Please note, this venue is 'totally inaccessible' for people in wheelchairs. (NB: Be sure not to confuse Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese in Fleet Street with The Cheshire Cheese Pub near St Clement Danes!)

Temple Church
Sketch by Akira Yamanaka

Options for drawing

St. Bride's Church - An historic building designed by Sir Christopher Wren, St Bride's is hidden away close to Fleet Street. It’s a beautiful old church with a Baroque style interior, often called the 'wedding cake' church because of the shape of its spire. Sadly, on the day of our sketchwalk there is a possibility of a wedding, and so we may not be able to access the interior. On the other hand, this means there may be more people in the area to draw.

St Bride's Church
Sketch by Akira Yamanaka

Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese - This historic pub is linked to the roots of Urban Sketchers London. Some of our first sketchwalks took place here many years ago! The exterior is quite small and narrow, but the interior cellar rooms and table seating areas are quite interesting to look at and draw. The pub opens at noon. Please note, this venue is 'totally inaccessible' for people in wheelchairs. (NB: Be sure not to confuse this pub with The Cheshire Cheese Pub near St Clement Danes!)

Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese pub in Fleet Street
Photo by Ewan Munro from London UK
CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

St Dunstan-in-the-West - One of the Guild churches in the City of London. The original church was saved from the Great Fire of London in 1666 and was rebuilt in 1831. St Dunstan's is both an Anglican church and the home of the Romanian Orthodox Church in London.

St Dunstan-in-the-West
Photo by Akira Yamanaka

Hodge the Cat Statue - Tucked away between buildings by the Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese pub is a fascinating statue of a cat. The writer Dr Samuel Johnson’s restored house is nearby.

Hodge the Cat statue
Photo by Akira Yamanaka

Daily Express Building- The Grade II* listed home of the Daily Express newspaper, located right on Fleet Street. It features an Art Deco style with curved windows and building corners, and is mostly reflective. The building was featured in the 1961 science fiction film The Day the Earth Caught Fire. It really stands out in the area.

Daily Express Building
Photo by Akira Yamanaka

Victoria Embankment Gardens - We will meet here later in the day. There are a couple of statues of people like the philosopher and politician John Stuart Mill and the industrialist and philanthropist William Edward Forster. In addition there are seating areas and a few spots with various types of plants to sketch.

Other very different styles of architecture in the area for inspiration - It's fascinating the way many buildings of various purposes have been sandwiched together here.

More architectural styles in the Fleet Street area
Photo by Akira Yamanaka

More diversity in architectural design
Photo by Akira Yamanaka

Practical information

Food, drink and conveniences

There’s numerous restaurants and cafes in the area of St Bride’s Church. There's Starbucks Coffee near Blackfriars station, which has toilets, then there is the Punch Tavern pub near St Bride's Church, the Albion, and LEON Ludgate. Further towards the Temple area are coffee shops like The Fleet Street Press, the SOHO Coffee Co, and restaurants and pubs.

Public transport

The nearest stations to our meeting point are the Blackfriars Underground and train stations on the Circle and District Lines. For those moving around London, the Blackfriars Underground station is likely the best option. For those wanting to travel from the Temple Church area/directions to the west, there is the Temple Underground station, also on the Circle and District Lines.

Accessibility

The Starbucks coffee shop mentioned above has a wheelchair-accessible entrance and toilet. The Punch Tavern and LEON Ludgate restaurant have wheelchair-accessible entrances. Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese pub is 'totally inaccessible' to people in wheelchairs. For detailed accessibility information on other venues in the area, have a look at the online guide AccessAble.

Covid guidance

Please do not attend if you feel unwell
Wear a face covering when you're close to others
Give people space
Practise good hand hygiene.

Location map

See you in Fleet Street!

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

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To remind: Let's draw Crystal Palace Park on 17 June = or = Sunday 2 July 2023

noreply@blogger.com (C Barlow Marrs SGFA) — Tue, 13 Jun 2023 16:06:00 +0000

Crystal Palace Park in Autumn
Sketch by Lis Watkins

= To remind =

Let's draw Crystal Palace Park Saturday 17 June or Sunday 2 July

Join us on either of the dates above to sketch in Crystal Palace Park. Built in 1852 by Sir Joseph Paxton, the park is situated in South East London and home to the famous Crystal Palace Dinosaurs. You'll find everything you need to know in our original blog post.

See you at Crystal Palace Park!

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

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To remind: Let's draw Richmond Sunday 4 June = and = Let's draw Crystal Palace Park Saturday 17 June or Sunday 2 July 2023

noreply@blogger.com (C Barlow Marrs SGFA) — Wed, 31 May 2023 15:16:00 +0000

= To remind =

Richmond Green - sketch by John Webb

Let's draw Richmond-upon-Thames Sunday 4 June

We are aiming to reduce the size of our sketching crowds by repeating this session on two different dates. If you missed the first Richmond sketchwalk on Saturday 20 May, come along on the alternative date Sunday 4 June for a day of drawing in this historic and interesting location beside the River Thames. Have a look at our original blog post for all the details.

See you at Richmond!

Crystal Palace Park in Autumn
Sketch by Lis Watkins

Let's draw Crystal Palace Park Saturday 17 June or Sunday 2 July

See you at Crystal Palace Park!

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

noreply@blogger.com (Sasala Wickramasinghe) — Sun, 21 May 2023 07:18:00 +0000

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 Crystal Palace Park - Saturday 17 June or Sunday 2 July 2023

noreply@blogger.com (C Barlow Marrs SGFA) — Tue, 16 May 2023 15:49:00 +0000

Crystal Palace Park in Autumn
Sketch by Lis Watkins

Let's draw London in 2023 - Find our full programme here

Join us on either of the dates above to sketch in Crystal Palace Park. Built in 1852 by Sir Joseph Paxton, the park is situated in South East London and home to the famous Crystal Palace Dinosaurs.

The dinosaurs were commissioned in 1852 to accompany the Crystal Palace after its move from the Great Exhibition in Hyde Park, and they were designed and sculpted by Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins. By modern standards, the sculptures are completely inaccurate, having been based on the scientific knowledge of the time, but they are fascinating to look at and even more fun to draw. They were the first ever life-sized models of extinct animals to be sculpted, and after extensive restoration they were upgraded to Grade I listed in 2007.

Dinosaurs at Crystal Palace Park
Sketch by Sarah Minty

The dinosaurs are found on the ‘Penge side’ of the park, next to the lake, but the park and its surroundings have lots of other points of interest too which we have listed below.

On the banks of Crystal Palace Lake
Sketch by Sarah Minty

The sketchwalk on 17 June will be run by Sarah Minty, and Lis Watkins will run the session on 2 July.

If this is your first sketchwalk with us, welcome to Urban Sketchers London!

We look forward to seeing you!

Meeting point

We will meet at the Brown and Green Life Cafe which is near the Penge Gate entrance to the park on Thicket Road (scroll down to see the location map). The nearest station is Penge West, which is a seven-minute walk away and connects to the London Overground. Penge East station is a 14 minute walk, with trains running from London Victoria. Crystal Palace Station is a 11 minute walk and has trains to London Victoria and London Bridge, as well as the London Overground.

Options for drawing

Crystal Palace Dinosaurs and lake, with the added option to sketch people in pedallos (if the boat house is open). Keep your eyes peeled for other animal sculptures amongst the trees too, including a giant sloth.

Some of the dinosaurs at Crystal Palace Park
Photo by Sarah Minty

Crystal Palace Park city farm which is open from 12pm to 3:30pm and free to the public.

Crystal Palace Bowl an outdoor stage, also known locally as the ‘rusty laptop’, where the likes of Pink Floyd and Bob Marley have performed.

The remains of the old Crystal Palace which was destroyed by a fire in 1936. There is not much left of it now, but there are some statues and sphinxes that remain.

Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, which includes an outdoor athletics stadium and volleyball courts, if drawing people in action is your thing.

Crystal Palace sunbathers
Sketch by Sarah Minty

The park is great for people sketching, and often you’ll find large gatherings of people under the trees barbecuing in the summer.

The surrounding streets of Penge have some beautiful villas, and there are the Victorian Royal Watermen’s Almhouses on the High Street.

Royal Watermen's Almshouses
Sketch by Lis Watkins

Crystal Palace also has a number of cafes and buildings that would be interesting to draw on ‘The Triangle’, if you can manage the walk up the hill, and some of the streets offer a glimpse of the city beyond.

Key times and meeting points

11am

We will meet at the Brown and Green Life Cafe near the Penge Gate entrance to the park on Thicket Road (see the location map below). The nearest station is Penge West, which is a 7 minute walk away and connects to the London Overground. Penge East station is a 14 minute walk, with trains running from London Victoria. Crystal Palace Station is a 11 minute walk through the park and is connected to London Victoria, London Bridge and the London Overground.

1pm

Meet back at the Brown and Green Life Cafe for the lunchtime throwdown and group photo by the gorilla statue (see the photo below). The cafe is a great place for lunch, and there are also some options in Penge or on Anerley Hill which leads up to Crystal Palace.

If it is raining, there is an undercover bit to the side of the cafe which will give some shelter.

Brown and Green Life Cafe

We will gather at the gorilla statue for
our throwdowns at 1pm and 3.30 pm

3:30pm

Meet at the same place for the afternoon throwdown and group photo to finish the day.

Afterwards

We suggest the Bridge House pub for a drink afterwards.

Bridge House pub
Sketch by Lis Watkins

Practical information

Food and drink and conveniences

The cafe in the park offers a selection of food and drink. There are also options on Penge High Street (10 minutes walk), on Anerley Hill leading up to Crystal Palace, or in Crystal Palace itself.

There are loos in the park next to the Visitors Centre near the lake and dinosaurs.

Public transport

The nearest station to the meet up point is Penge West, which is a 7 minute walk away and connects to the London Overground. Penge East station is a 14 minute walk with trains running from London Victoria. Crystal Palace Station is an 11 minute walk through the park and is connected to London Victoria, London Bridge and the London Overground.

The 176 bus from central London will take you all the way to Penge, get off at the Thicket Road stop.

Accessibility

The Brown and Green Life Cafe has an accessible toilet and all the locations are wheelchair-accessible. Let us know if you need any support on the day.

Covid guidance

Please do not attend if you feel unwell
Wear a face covering when you're close to others
Give people space
Practise good hand hygiene.

Further information

If you're new to Urban Sketchers London, have a look at Mike Whalley's brief history of the international Urban Sketchers movement.

Location map

See you at Crystal Palace Park!

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.

To remind: Let's draw Richmond - Saturday 20 May or Sunday 4 June 2023

noreply@blogger.com (C Barlow Marrs SGFA) — Tue, 16 May 2023 13:36:00 +0000

Richmond Green
Sketch by John Webb

This May and June we return to the pretty town of Richmond.

So good we are sketching twice!

We are aiming to reduce the size of our sketching crowds by repeating this sketchwalk on two different dates: Saturday 20 May or Sunday 4 June 2023. Join us on either of these dates to sketch in this historic and interesting location beside the River Thames. For all the details, have a look at our original blog post on this delightful sketchwalk.

See you at Richmond!

Let's draw London in 2023!

⧫ ⧫ ⧫ ⧫ ⧫

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 Richmond - Saturday 20 May or Sunday 4 June 2023

noreply@blogger.com (C Barlow Marrs SGFA) — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 18:17:00 +0000

Richmond Green - sketch by John Webb

Let's draw London in 2023 - Find our full programme here

This May and June we return to the pretty town of Richmond.

So good we are sketching twice! We are aiming to reduce the size of our sketching crowds by repeating this sketchwalk on two different dates.

Join us on either of the dates above to sketch in this historic and interesting location beside the River Thames. On the location map below are the historic Richmond Green and Richmond Theatre, the ancient Old Palace Yard, the spectacle of Richmond Riverside, a vibrant market, and the option to climb Richmond Hill to sketch the only view in the country that is protected by an Act of Parliament. There are many opportunities for refreshment throughout the day.

The day is run by Helen Hayhoe and John Swanson.

Meeting point at 11am

We will gather by the red telephones on the corner of Richmond Green, by the Prince’s Head and Cricketers pubs (scroll down to see our location map). This is about a 10 minute walk from Richmond Train Station and five minutes from Richmond Bus Station (see location map below).

Meeting place at 11am - Red telephone boxes at Richmond Green
Sketch by Mark Stow

Options for drawing

Richmond Riverside Wander down Water Lane to find the River Thames, with its boats, bridges and terraces.

Richmond Riverside
Sketch by John Swanson

Richmond Palace Just off the Green is the former location of Henry VII Palace with an old arched entrance which dates from 1501.

Richmond Palace gate
Sketch by Steven Baker

Duckpond Artisan Market This bustling market happens every Saturday and Sunday in Heron Square.

‘The View’ Walk up Hill Rise (about 20 minutes) to the Terrace overlooking Petersham Meadows and the River Thames. The view was famously painted by JWM Turner, among others. It is a fabulous place to sketch, with plenty of benches and The Roebuck Pub for refreshment.

The View - Richmond Hill
Sketch by Helen Hayhoe

Richmond Theatre On Little Green is Richmond Theatre, a perfect late Victorian building.

Key times and meeting points

11 AM

We will meet by the red telephones on the corner of Richmond Green, by the Prince’s Head and Cricketers pubs. This is about a 10 minute walk from Richmond Train Station and five minutes from Richmond Bus Station (see location map below).

Meeting place at 11am
Photo by Helen Hayhoe

1 PM

Meet at the memorial statue of Bernard O’Higgins* for the lunchtime throwdown and group photo. You will find the spot at Richmond Bridge, accessed next to Bill’s restaurant. Here is a small green area tucked above the steps and ramp down to Tide Tables Café. There is room here for a throwdown. We are aiming for people to file by the sketches in a clockwise direction so that we all get a chance to view them. The lovely Tide Tables Café nearby is a great place for lunch.

Location map for our 1PM throwdown at the Bernardo O'Higgins statue - click to see detail
Sketch by Helen Hayhoe

If it is raining, we will meet just over the zebra crossing in the Colonnades, which will give some shelter.

Meeting place at 1pm and 3.30 pm - The memorial bust of Bernard O'Higgins
Photo by Helen Hayhoe

*Bernard O’Higgins was a Chilean independence leader who freed Chile from Spanish rule in the Chilean War of Independence

Meeting place at 1pm and 3.30 pm if it rains --
The Colonnades outside Knight Frank estate agents
Photograph by Helen Hayhoe

3.30 PM
Meet at the same place for the afternoon throwdown and group photo.

Afterwards

We suggest the White Cross Pub on the riverside for a drink afterwards.

NB: The towpath may be submerged! The tide may be high on these dates, with High Water at 4 to 4.30pm.

The White Cross Pub
Sketch by Nick Richards

Practical information

Food and drink and conveniences

There are many cafés and pubs nearby to keep us refreshed throughout the day.

Nearby loos can be found in Richmond Station, Marks and Spencer on George Street and The Old Town Hall. There are numerous cafes and pubs with facilities. Richmond is part of the Community Toilet Scheme which lists other options.

Getting there

Public transport

Travel to Richmond upon Thames is quick and easy. Located in Zone 4 and 5 of London’s travel network, it takes approximately 20 minutes to reach the borough from London Waterloo station.

The borough is connected with direct railway (South Western Railway) and London Underground links. The town is served by many buses.

Accessibility

All of the locations mentioned in this post are wheelchair-accessible. Richmond Museum has an accessible toilet, and there is one at Eileen’s Café along the towpath towards Petersham Meadow. Please let us know if you need support on the day.

Covid guidance

Please do not attend if you feel unwell
Wear a face covering when you're close to others
Give people space
Practice good hand hygiene.

Further information

If you're new to Urban Sketchers London, have a look at Mike Whalley's brief history of the international Urban Sketchers movement.

Location map

See you at Richmond!

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.

To remind - Let's draw Shoreditch Saturday 15 April or Sunday 30 April 2023

noreply@blogger.com (C Barlow Marrs SGFA) — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 14:44:00 +0000

Beigel Bake, the famous Brick Lane bakery
Sketch by Jia You

Let's draw London in 2023! Find our full programme here

= To remind =

This April we go to the trendy neighbourhood of Shoreditch in East London

[Led by Jia You and Jimmy Lu]

This month we're organising two sketch walks in Shoreditch -- one on a Saturday and another on a Sunday -- to reduce the size of our sketching crowds. Check out our original blog post for this event, then join us on Saturday 15 April or Sunday 30 April for an outstanding day of urban sketching.

See you at Shoreditch!

Let's draw London in 2023!

⧫ ⧫ ⧫ ⧫ ⧫

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 Shoreditch - Saturday 15 April and Sunday 30 April 2023

noreply@blogger.com (C Barlow Marrs SGFA) — Sun, 19 Mar 2023 07:37:00 +0000

Beigel Bake, the famous Brick Lane bakery
Sketch by Jia You

Let's draw London in 2023 - Find our full programme here

This April we go to the trendy neighbourhood of Shoreditch in East London

[Led by Jia You and Jimmy Lu]

Located in the East End of London, Shoreditch is a trendy and bustling neighbourhood that has undergone significant transformation in recent years. Once an industrial area, it is now a hub for thriving industries such as arts, fashion and technology.

With attractions such as Brick Lane, the Truman Brewery Market, vintage markets and street art, Shoreditch offers a wealth of opportunities for urban sketching. The neighbourhood is renowned for its vibrant street art scene, diverse architecture and creative energy, providing an ideal environment for artists to explore and capture. Whether you're drawn to the energy of the streets or the intricate details of the built environment, Shoreditch offers something for every urban sketcher.

There is no cost, just wrap up warm and bring your sketching kit.

Meeting point

Our meeting point for the day is Boundary Garden, a small raised park on a roundabout surrounded by blocks of flats. It's a three minute walk from Shoreditch High Street Station, and a 15 minute walk from Liverpool Street Station. If the weather is rainy we'll meet inside the bandstand (see photo).

Boundary Garden, our meeting point for the day
Photo by Jia You

Options for drawing

Outdoors

Box Park - This food and retail park is made of repurposed shipping containers, and features a variety of shops and restaurants, as well as plenty of outdoor seating areas that offer great opportunities for sketching. Open Saturdays 11am - 11.45pm, and on Sundays 11am–10.30pm.

Brick Lane - This historic street is famous for its vibrant street art and colourful storefronts. There are plenty of murals and installations to be found on and around the street, making it a great place to draw urban art. Don’t forget to stop by the famous bakery Beigel Bake!

Truman Brewery - It is a historic complex of buildings that once housed a brewery and now serves as a hub for creative businesses, galleries, shops and restaurants.

Redchurch Street - Redchurch Street is a destination in Shoreditch known for its independent shops, cafes, and galleries. It's a great place to draw interesting architecture, street art, and people-watching opportunities.

The Truman Brewery
Sketch by Jia You

Indoors

Spitalfields Market (12 minute walk from Boundary Garden) - This historic market has been a hub of commerce and creativity for centuries, and today it offers a mix of independent shops, food stalls, and events. The covered market hall is home to a variety of vendors selling everything from handmade crafts to vintage clothing, and offers plenty of interesting subjects to draw. Hours on Saturdays and Sundays are 9am - 11 pm.

Museum of the Home (formerly known as the Geffrye Museum, 10 minute walk from Boundary Garden) - This museum of the home features a series of period rooms that offer a glimpse into the domestic lives of Londoners over the past 400 years. It's a great place to sketch furniture, objects, and interiors. Open Tuesday to Sunday 10am - 5pm.

Christ Church Spitalfields - an early 18th-century church designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor. Open Sundays from 1 - 4pm.

Café life - There are so many good cafes in Shoreditch: Attendant, Allpress Espresso Bar, or any other café you can find!

Spitalfield Market
Sketch by Jia You

Key times and meeting points

11 AM

Meet in Boundary Garden. There is a bandstand on the top of it. It's a three minute walk from Shoreditch High Street Station or a 15 minute walk from Liverpool Street Station. If the weather is rainy we'll meet inside the bandstand.

1 PM

Meet in Boundary Garden again to show sketchbooks and take our lunchtime group photo. In case of inclement weather, we will meet inside the bandstand.

3.30 PM

Meet back at the same spot to look at the day’s work and take the afternoon group photo.

Afterwards

If you would like to linger for a while to chat (and sketch!) we will then move to the nearby pub Brewdog Shoreditch at 51 Bethnal Green Road, E1 6LA.

Practical information

Food and drink

There are plenty of places to get food and drink in Shoreditch. Box Park and the Truman Brewery market offer a variety of food stalls. Brick Lane is home to a number of traditional Indian and Bangladeshi curry houses, many of which have been in operation for decades.

Getting there

The nearest Tube station is Shoreditch High Street Station (Overground), a three minute walk from Boundary Park. Liverpool Street Station is a 15 minute walk away.

Covid guidance

Urban Sketchers London remain alert to national guidance about COVID-19 and its variants. Even though restrictions have been lifted, it's sensible to take all necessary precautions to keep ourselves and fellow sketchers safe throughout the event. The risk of infection for outdoor events is low, but basic guidance still applies:

Please do not attend if you feel unwell

Wear a face covering when you're close to others

Give people space

Practice good hand hygiene.

Remember to tag us when you post your sketches on social media

#urbansketcherslondon

#usklondon

Location map

See you at Shoreditch!

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.

To remind -- Let's draw Greenwich Saturday 18 March 2023

noreply@blogger.com (C Barlow Marrs SGFA) — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 14:36:00 +0000

Let's draw London - Find our 2023 sketchwalk programme here

= To remind =

This March we return to a favourite London location, Greenwich.

The City from Greenwich
Photo by Mike Whalley

Travel alerts!

Rail strikes are now scheduled for the weekend of 18 March, but we will meet and sketch in Greenwich as planned -- see our original post for all the details. Buses and most London Underground lines should still be in operation, albeit busy and with delays.

Ongoing maintenance works at Cutty Sark DLR Station are posing a challenge for visitors. We suggest you alight at Greenwich DLR instead -- it's just a nine minute walk from our meeting point at the National Maritime Museum. Have a look at the location map in our original blog post for this splendid sketchwalk.

Urban Sketchers London

We have moved!

We have moved!

Check out our brand new website.

https://urbansketcherslondon.co.uk/

If you haven't signed up/subscribed to the new website, please do so by clicking on the "Subscribe" button on the new homepage.

You will receive all the updates and new posts straight to your mailbox.

You can find us on social media as usual

Instagram @urbansketcherslondonFacebook @USKLondon

Twitter @UrbSketchLondon

See you soon at a sketch walk nearby!

We drew London (a lot!) in 2023 - A productive year in review

Let's draw London in 2024!

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

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To remind: Let's draw the South Bank Christmas Market on Saturday 9 or Sunday 17 December 2023

The Southbank Centre Food MarketSketch by Robin Wang

We're sketching the Christmas Market on the South Bank, and we'd love to see you there!

Come join us on either Saturday December 9th or Sunday the 17th. Check out our original blog post for all the details.

See you at the Christmas Market!

Coming soon: the Urban Sketchers London programme for 2024 -- watch for it!

London by Urban Sketchers - Our 10 Year Anniversary Book

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Urban Sketchers London on social media

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Let's draw the Christmas Market at the South Bank on either Saturday 9 or Sunday 17 December 2023

In December we're sketching festivities at the Southbank Centre, with an almost unrivalled range of opportunities for urban sketching, of buildings, people, the River Thames and its bridges.

If this is your first sketchwalk with us, welcome to Urban Sketchers London

Key times and meeting points

11 AM We will gather for a short briefing.

Options for drawing

Practical information

#urbansketcherslondon #usklondon

Location map

Coming soon: the Urban Sketchers London programme for 2024 -- watch for it!

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.

To remind - Let's draw the Wellcome Collection Sunday 19 November 2023

The Wellcome Collection lobby and cafeSketch by Helen Hayhoe

This month we're drawing the Wellcome Collection, a free museum and library near Euston Station that aims to challenge how we all think and feel about health.

Coming soon: the Urban Sketchers London programme for 2024 -- watch for it!

London by Urban Sketchers - Our 10 Year Anniversary Book

Order your copy here

Urban Sketchers London on social media

Instagram @urbansketcherslondonFacebook @USKLondonTwitter @UrbSketchLondon

Join our mailing list

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

Let's draw the Wellcome Collection on either Saturday 4 November = or = Sunday 19 November 2023

This month we're drawing the Wellcome Collection, a free museum and library near Euston Station that aims to challenge how we all think and feel about health.

If this is your first sketchwalk with us, welcome to Urban Sketchers London!

Key times and meeting points for the day

Options for drawing

Practical information

#urbansketcherslondon #usklondon

Location map

See you at the Wellcome Collection!

Let's draw London in 2023 -- Find the rest of our programme for the year here. Coming soon: the Urban Sketchers London programme for 2024 -- watch for it!

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.

To remind: Let's draw Brixton - Saturday 21 October 2023

Foxes and cherries - the eye-catching sculpture atop Brixton marketSketch by Catherine Bardrick

'We're gonna rock down to Electric Avenue'* and draw Brixton, the British capital of Afro-Caribbean culture with an eclectic mix of Victorian architecture and a vibrant multi-cultural marketplace.

If you missed the first Brixton sketchwalk, come join us on Saturday 21 October 2023.

See you in Brixton!

Let's draw London in 2023 -- Find the rest of our programme for the year here. Coming soon: the Urban Sketchers London programme for 2024 -- watch for it!

London by Urban Sketchers - Our 10 Year Anniversary Book

Instagram @urbansketcherslondon
Facebook @USKLondon

Instagram @urbansketcherslondon

Facebook @USKLondon

Twitter @UrbSketchLondon

The Southbank Centre Food Market
Sketch by Robin Wang

Instagram @urbansketcherslondon
Facebook @USKLondon
Twitter @UrbSketchLondon

Instagram @urbansketcherslondon

Facebook @USKLondon

Twitter @UrbSketchLondon

The Wellcome Collection lobby and cafe
Sketch by Helen Hayhoe

Instagram @urbansketcherslondon
Facebook @USKLondon
Twitter @UrbSketchLondon

Instagram @urbansketcherslondon

Facebook @USKLondon

Twitter @UrbSketchLondon

Foxes and cherries - the eye-catching sculpture atop Brixton market
Sketch by Catherine Bardrick