Sketches from the UK

 I know I promised to update this blog while I was away with pictures and sketches, but the e-sim I had was somewhat dodgy on my phone. Firstly it was a French number, which meant when I had time, it was out of service area or bandwidth, and when I had bandwidth I was too busy travelling about! Needless to say I walked my feet off, had a faboulous time touring about and staying with friends.

Here are a few images from my travel sketchbook. It is only a little travel sized from Hand Book Journals. 180gsm hotpress, lovely creamy colour at 14 x 9 cm it fit into my shoulder bag nicely. Most of the sketches were done on site, with some finishing later in the hotel/room. All were done using a LAMY fountain pen, with touches of grey marking pen, or washed LAMY, or bits of watercolour pencil/graphitint. Enjoy!

Swaledale sheep from the Yorkshire Dales. These guys stand right in the middle of the road and glare at you! Both male and female have curved horns. Black faces, white coats. Hearty little beasties.

Drystone walls are a feature of the English countryside, particularly in the Dales. Many are in disrepair. All are worthy subjects for a drawing or six!

The white church on the hill in Findochty, Scotland. A sunny, if cold and blustery day!

Fishermen's cottages snuggle up tightly against each other to keep out the wind.

The tide was out at Portsoy, Scotland. To get to the moored boats you needed to climb this rickety ladder.

You need a strong, tough boat to fish the North Seas.

Pitlochry, Scotland. A pretty village filled with Victorian era buildings.

Hettie, my friend Mike's very spoiled, yet sweet princess Cocker Spaniel.

Open fields, blue skies, fluffy clouds, barley and poppies waving in the breeze. A beautiful day in Yorkshire.

Reivaulx Abbey in Yorkshire. A wonderful afternoon, strolling among the ruins of this ancient abbey.

The smallest house in the UK can be found in Ambleside, Lake District. The Bridge house over the Stock Beck has only two rooms, one up, one down. At one time the local basket weaver, his wife and six children lived here!

Castlerigg Stone Circle, Lake District

Herdwick sheep. These guys have unique colouring, black coats and white faces. Native to the Lake District, Beatrix Potter was instrumental in saving this breed.

Yeoman Warder at the Tower of London. This gentleman kindly let me quickly sketch him. He has served over 28 years in the Royal Marines, two tours of duty in Afganistan and one in Iraq. A chest full of medals. On this day he was wearing 'half' formal dress as it was the King's Birthday. A proud serviceman.

 

Finally, a very quick sketch of the Cutty Sark, Greenwich. I didn't go on board, it is sort of a Disney adventure these days with costumed guides, holograms, bells and whistles. Maybe next visit!