My Sketches

Some time ago I taught myself to sketch, with the help of a video by Alwyn Crawshaw and some Berol Venus 2B pencils. They're never going to be in a real gallery, so I thought I would hang them in my own virtual gallery on the web!
Scroll down to see them all...


1995 This ten minute sketch of the new pumping station on the site of the old Mo at Sherinhgam is on the cover of my sketchbook, and is a typical lunchtime holiday sketch - just long enough for SWMBO (she who must be obeyed) to have a sit but not to get bored waiting!
It needs more dark shadows, but trying to touch it up later would be guesswork!

1993 These are my first ever two sketches, waiting for my son to finish his first ever surgery with our MP.

1995 I got a bit more adventurous on holiday in Norfolk. The village of East Runton was part of an early morning walk from the Camping Club site at West Runton to the sea. I learned that buildings are much easier to sketch than cars or people. Cottages look like cottages every time, but cars are too easily recognised and have subtle curves that cottages don't. People and animals - well that's a whole other ball game - you need talent!

I also learned - Vertical lines are ALWAYS supposed to be vertical!

This delightful group of farm buildings drawn live standing up looking over a hedge, became the design for a later watercolour done in the "studio". The sketch was much more alive. The two horses in the field were beyond my skills!

There used to be a tea shop in West Runton called Suzannes - with fresh bread baked on the premises. Sitting out on the pavement with a pot of tea and a fresh buttered roll, sketching the church, was a real delight on a sunny morning.

Another 10 minute sketch of West Runton church from the railway bridge I think.

I decided to create this post card on an old piece of mount card and sent it to work - just to impress!

This is a straight pencil sketch with a little watercolour flooded in.

1995 Sketching with a brush in watercolour is another way to produce a 10 minute sketch - free and with no pencil work, sometimes they come out, most go in the bin. Southrepps from the boot of the car, sheltering from the noon day sun in June whilst SWMBO is taking a snooze!

A bit too steep in perspective - looks like I was standing on the roof of the car!

1997 Shepherd Cottage East Runton. I think 2 years had improved my technique - deeper shadows and better composition. Looking at it after 10 years for the first time and I thought "hmm that looks quite nice" rather than "oh dear"! This was done freestanding from the childrens' swings area in the village.

The Old Boat House Sheringham 1997. This took about half an hour, and I can still feel the imprint of the folding stool on my behind! I noticed this year that the boat has now been cleared away.

1997 This is my favourite cottage sketch. Rose Cottage in East Runton. I think I got the perspective quite well, even though the chimneys are a bit off centre. I sketched until I ached!

This picture was repeated as a small studio watercolour, but it lost all its vitality and the perspective went flat second time around. I wish I had the time and the physical strength to paint watercolour in situ.




This is a quick sketch of detail on a field gate in the grounds of Felbrigg House, near Cromer. It was while having a picnic lunch.



Another quick sketch of a dead tree in the grounds of Felbrigg House. I tried to be more dramatic because of the subject matter. The tree fell down over the winter of 06/07