Tag: Cumbria

  • A morning at Sizergh Castle

    A morning at Sizergh Castle

    We’ve had a super morning at nearby Sizergh castle, a Grade I Listed, 14th century pele tower with later additions and stunning gardens. It was lovely to wander around in the warm sunshine. I took lots of photos and even managed this quick pen and ink sketch of the castle.

  • Old Kendal bridge

    Old Kendal bridge

    The other day we had coffee outside the Waterside Cafe on the banks of the River Kent in Kendal. They were busy and the drinks took a while to come, so I whipped out my sketchbook and drew the view of Miller Bridge. It’s a lovely old structure which dates from 1818 and still carries…

  • Sketching a manor house!

    Sketching a manor house!

    Members of Windermere Art Society were recently invited to a sketching session at the stunning Cedar Manor Hotel in Windermere, courtesy of the owners. Several of us took advantage and had a lovely time, with tea, cake, a nice chat, and even time for some sketching! The gardens and architecture are beautiful. I took a…

  • Moody Morecambe marsh…

    Moody Morecambe marsh…

    I’m working on a pastel picture of the vast salt marsh/estuary of Morecambe Bay from the prom at Grange over Sands. The bay always has a very special light and I was lucky enough to catch a photo when the sun was just bursting through dark clouds creating a sunburst effect. It was tricky to…

  • An old church and a swallow…

    An old church and a swallow…

    These are the latest doodles from my journal – a couple of quick sketches of a lovely cross-country walk from Lakeside/Newby Bridge to Finsthwaite on Saturday. The village turned out to be incredibly pretty, and quiet as it’s off the “beaten track” and less accessible to tourists. We spent a happy few minutes poking about…

  • Coming soon – Cumbria Local Arts exhibition

    Coming soon – Cumbria Local Arts exhibition

    One week to go until this event – and I’m in it! Last year we went as visitors and were blown away by the standard of art displayed. This year I should have four pictures of my own exhibited and for sale. I’m still glowing at the thought! Do come along to Grasmere between 3rd…

  • Cartmel Priory gatehouse #2

    Cartmel Priory gatehouse #2

    And this is the other side of the medieval priory gatehouse in Cartmel, Cumbria. My hand was shaking a bit when I was drawing this yesterday (long-term wrist injury, sigh) so it’s a bit… scratchier than I’d have liked. But you start to get a sense of just how massive it is – and I…

  • New pen drawing

    New pen drawing

    I messed around with a fineliner pen again last night while watching the snooker and this is the result. It’s the wonderful medieval priory gatehouse in Cartmel which I’ve been itching to draw for a while. Some of the perspectives were quite complex but I’m pleased with the way it came out…

  • Hide and sheep!

    Hide and sheep!

    I’m still experimenting with drawing from scratch in fineliner pen/ink and it’s much better than I expected. This is a little scene of three Herdwick sheep trying to convince everyone they were hidden behind a tree and a fence post, which I snapped near Hawkshead earlier this year. I’m thinking of calling it Hide and…

  • Pen and ink

    Pen and ink

    I had loads of fun at Windermere Art Society last night learning ink, pen and chalk techniques from local artist Stuart Grey. Most of this little picture (of the gateway at Sedbergh church in Cumbria) was done with liquid ink and a sponge with details in fineliner pen and good old fashioned white chalk. I’m…