Here is a view of the Coastguard Station and Tynemouth Priory, seen from across King Edwards Bay, on the North-east coast of England.
Tynemouth Coastguard Station and Tynemouth Priory, Sketched 8th April 2023 in sketchbook 13
They both are, in their own ways, continuations of the cliffs below. The coastguard station with its massive concrete architecture, the priory with its soaring stone columns. And as if to emphasize how transitory are our human constructions: both are now disused, at least for their original functions.
Parts of the original priory which still survive are the West side of the nave, from the 12th century. “..in January 1539 the priory fell victim to the nationwide Dissolution of the Monasteries” says the English Heritage website. The headland then became a military fortification in wars which followed, right up to the 1939-45 conflict, where guns were stationed there. Some of the gun emplacements remain. It is now a tourist attraction managed by English Heritage.
Much less information is available about the Coastguard Station. It was opened in 1980 and closed in 2001, according to a BBC article of 2001. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1567195.stm). It is a remarkably solid building in a first class location. Why has nobody converted it into a splendid home, guest house, restaurant, art gallery or place of worship?
While I was sketching, a elderly woman passed by on the path and admired the sketch. She said she was surprised more people weren’t sketching there: it was a splendid view. I agreed, and didn’t point out that it was also windy and very cold. I think such an observation would have revealed me as a soft southerner. She said she didn’t sketch, but she did other things. Tap dancing, she said.
This is as far as I got before I became too cold to continue.I finished the picture indoors.Tynemouth, in England’s North East.
I sketched the Coastguard Station in 2017:
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Woodbridge Tide Mill 4th April 2023, in Sketchbook 13, 10″ x 8″
The boats in the foreground are “Oystercatcher” on the left, and “Isla” on the right.
The Tide Mill was working when I visited. Huge wheels turned powerfully as water poured down from the Mill Pond. The water drives a millstone which grinds flour. There is also a tide-operated mobile phone charger in the mill!
Flour from the Mill, ground by tide power
This picture took me about an hour, drawn and coloured on location.
Here are some maps so you can find the Tide Mill. It’s a short walk from the railway station.
(c) openstreetmap contributorssketchmapfrom the tide mill website
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The Lady of Avenel is an 102ft square rigged brigantine. She was on the East coast of Scotland, and needed to be on the West Coast. So a group of us assembled to take her through the Caledonian Canal, from the North Sea to the Atlantic. This whole journey was about 190km or 120miles.
Route of The Lady of Avenel: Inverness to Oban, via Tobermory. 1st Oct to 8th Oct 2022
I joined the boat at Inverness. Travel to Scotland was disrupted by rail strikes. To be sure of arriving on time I arrived a day early. This gave me a chance to look around Inverness. There’s a huge river, the River Ness, and a castle and an Art Gallery. I stayed in a lovely hotel, Fraser House, on the river: recommended.
In the Art Gallery, Bronze Sculpture by Gerald Laing 1978 “An American Girl” – his wife Galina.View from my room in Fraser HouseInverness Castle From the other side of the river. Sketching inverness CastleSketching in Inverness
The Lady of Avenel was on the Canal at Seaport. The first Locks were Muirtown Locks, taking us uphill from the North Sea.
Lady of AvenelInside Muirtown LocksSeaport, and Muirtown Locks
Here is the view as we entered Loch Ness:
Entering Loch Ness
I was making these sketches very quickly. The boat kept moving, the light kept changing, and then it rained.
The sketchbook I was using was a Seawhite A5 Travel journal.
The patterns on some of the drawings were made before the trip. They are relief prints, using the corrugated paper from a coffee cup, corrugated cardboard, bubblewrap, and the net from some oranges. Sometimes these prints really enhanced the drawing, sometimes not. Here’s one where it worked:
Duart castle, printed background from a takeaway coffee cup
I also made sketches on small pieces of watercolour paper, which I sent as postcards.
Sketching Inverness CastlePostcards from the voyage
It’s a challenge to draw the rigging.
Rigging sketches
We had some shore leave.
From the Community Arts Centre, An Tobar, in Tobermory Tobermory, from the Lady of AvenelUrquhart CastleSketching at Urquhart CastleSketching on shore leave
The scenery of the Highlands, seen from the boat, was stunning. I tried to capture the light. All these sketches were made from the boat, which was moving, even when anchored.
Loch Linnhe, near Fort WIlliam. Ben Nevis in cloud on the left.Urquart Bay, Loch Ness, 9amDuart Bay, returning to ObanPine trees on a promontery, Duart Bay, Isle of MullPort An Eathair, Duart Bay, Isle of MullLoch Linnhe, 6pmViews of the Highlands
It was an adventure.
Me sketching on board. Picture Credit: AndyCustom stamp by “stampit.co.uk”
Sketching on the beach out of the wind, I am fascinated by the regular angles in which the rock cleaves.
Beach on the West Side, 27th June 2022, 1pm
The angle of the distant cliffs echoes the slope of the nearby rocks.
The forms of cliffs and rocks
Sketching in the hills, islands and hills are of the same form.
From the hill above BurrastowThe Footabrough ValleySketching on the way to the Virda StaneSketching the Footabrough Valley, 5th July 2022 (note the gloves!)
Here’s a sketch in my small sketchbook. The green overlaid pattern is a print, made in advance.
Hills near Footabrough, 3 July 2022
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There was a bit of a delay at Gatwick. When we arrived in Crete, there were thunderstorms. As the storm clouds cleared, we saw the red streaks where soft earth had been washed into the sea. I sketched the headlands. Eventually the sun came out. Up the hill is the Roman city of Ancient Aptera.…
I sent some hand-drawn postcards from Crete. An experimental view from a restaurant: Another view from a restaurant: The Roman water cisterns at Aptera: The beautiful monastery of Agias Triados I’ve sketched here in previous years, here is a 2017 sketch: Paint dries really quickly here! Crete blog posts:
I made a postcard for friends in Basel. It shows the insect life in Crete. Here are some details, and the work under construction. The idea was that the flies would jump out of the window when it was opened. The postcard is painted using pigments made from the earth. Update 28th May:…
The air in Crete was warm and damp. This affected the paper. See how the ink has spread in this pen and ink sketch at the airport: This is De Atramentis Black document ink on high quality watercolour paper, Saunders Waterford, in a small book 6″ by 4″ from the Vintage Paper Company. After that,…
I was experimental. I had a large sketchbook with rough pages, given to me for my birthday. I turned over the pages and tried things. As we drove back from Aptera one evening, the sun was setting and fired up the mist between the hills. Back at the kitchen table, I had a go: It…
Aptera was a city in Greek and Roman times. The people went to the Theatre. From the small slab in the centre, the acoustics are perfect. John gave a rendition of the speech of Richard III “Now is the winter of our discontent….”. I heard it perfectly, at this distance. The place where we stayed…
Another collage postcard. I posted this one in London 18th May. It looks a bit crinkled because the cardboard was damp with PVA glue, and then dried. The white shape on the bottom right is a flake of white paint I found on the ground. It must have been polyurethane paint, because it was flexible…
Here is a collage made for friends in Switzerland. I posted it at the Post Office in Kalami on 8th May. The official there did not seem to be concentrating very hard. He looked dubiously at the word “Switzerland” on the address. I think I need to find out what “Switzerland” is in Greek. The…
The Lady of Avenel is an 102ft square rigged brigantine, currently based near Oban, on the west coast of Scotland.
Postcards and Business Card for “Lady of Avenel”Postcards for “Lady of Avenel”Sketches of the “Lady of Avenel” made into postcards and business cards
Every year the Lady of Avenel needs a refit to prepare her for her working season. This year I went up there to join the working party for the refit.
I travelled by overnight train from Euston to Crianlarach.
Journey via the Caledonian Sleeper from London to Oban. Map from the Caledonian Sleeper webpage. The overnight journey takes about 10 hours Euston-Crianlarach. Then I caught a local train Crianlarach to Oban.
I drew some sketches on the journey.
I sketch my shoes before going to sleep on the train.Arrival at Crianlarach: a walk to the nearby River FillanWaiting for the train to ObanThe train is cancelled. Waiting for a bus on the main road. The bus doesn’t stop. Probably it is full. Back at the station, waiting for the later train. On the later train, on the way to Oban.Sketching on the journey north.
The boat was at Dunstaffnage Marina. In between work sessions I drew some pictures.
On the boat was a sea dog, Shona. She had to be locked indoors while crew members were hoisting the engine out. I was not part of the engine-hoisting gang. So I kept the dog company and drew her picture.
I travelled back via Fort William. The High Street caters for climbers and walkers and has a large number of shops stocking all brands of outdoor gear. I examined some of them, then rested by the Old Fort.
Near the train station there is a park with several war memorials, and a poignant plaque from the young people of Hiroshima:
“From the youth of Hiroshima in the hope that the experience of 6th August 1945 will strengthen our search for a peaceful world. January 1st 1968. Hiroshima Junior Chamber of Commerce.”Parade Gardens, Fort William
Here are a few photos of the Lady of Avenel during the refit.
The Lady in the marinaShadows in the morningHoisting up the engineWorking in the riggingPainting the name on the lifebuoysWhite paint on the bulwarksThe ListWorking out what’s nextWork in progress on the “Lady of Avenel” refit 2022
Scotland is beautiful.
Sunset after a swim. Beach called “Ganavan” near Oban.
I have sailed on the Lady of Avenel in previous years:
I took my sketching things on a swimming expedition to the Outer Hebrides with Swimtrek. We were on the wonderful Lady of Avenel 102ft square rigged brigantine. We started in Oban. It was raining when I…
Here is Lady of Avenel, 102ft Brigantine. This was the third of three sketches. Here are the first two. I have drawn Lady of Avenel previously: Outer Hebrides 2017 See also these pages for pictures of and…
This is Noordermarkt, as seen from Café Hegeraad, in the Jordaan district of Amsterdam. It was a lovely autumn day, warm with a light breeze. I had the apple cake and a coffee. I had arrived from…
Walking back to Bristol Temple Meads I stopped by the “Thekla” boat and music venue. Much of Bristol docklands area has changed radically in the last 35 years, in appearance and use. But the Thekla is still there, still in the same place, still a music venue, although the music has changed somewhat. I looked across the water as I thought these things, and saw St Mary Redcliffe.
St Mary Redcliffe from The Grove car park, next to Thekla, 23rd March 4pm in Sketchbook 11
St Mary Redcliffe has been there since the 12th century. The current building dates from the 13th and 14th century, and the spire was rebuilt in 1872.
On the left of my drawing, the building with the graffiti, that’s the last remaining undeveloped parts of the docks. The vans and lorries parked in front of it turned out to be a film crew. As I walked past, I saw the big hoardings advertising the redevelopment of the site to become “Redcliffe Wharf”. The developer’s website tells me:
This exciting development is the last direct waterside location on Bristol’s Harbourside. Once complete the development will create around 41,000 sq ft of highly sustainable Grade A office accommodation plus 45 two and three bedroom apartments, two waterside restaurants and space for local businesses.
website for the “Redcliffe Wharf” redevelopment
As I was drawing, a person came and stood, for quite some considerable time so it seemed to me, directly in my field of view. This person was a member of a group. They all walked past, saw me sitting on the kerbstone drawing, and then wondered what I was drawing and went to have a look across the water for themselves. This particular person then chose to align themselves exactly in front of me, adjusting a camera and taking multiple shots. I practised Zen patience, cleaned my palette, mixed some colour, looked at the seagulls, and waited. Then I decided to take a photo.
Work in progress
When I finished my drawing, I walked on into the picture, and past St Mary Redcliffe.
I hope the redevelopment does not touch the beautiful tranquil garden at the top of the hill.
Quakers’ Garden near St Mary Redcliffe, above and behind the building with graffiti in my drawing.Map from about 2005, showing the sightline of the drawing
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Wandering in a warm Bristol evening I rounded the harbour and found myself in Nova Scotia Place. This is a secluded domain, enclosed by water, and main roads. There is a pub, the Nova Scotia Hotel. People occupied the outdoor tables, with pints and conversation. I walked onto the small promontory and looked at the little cottages opposite.
Sketching at Nova Scotia Place, 22nd March 2022, 6pm
The warm evening became rather cooler. I packed up when I’d done the pen sketch. The bench that I had been using was a memorial bench:
In memory of Alan Helliwell (German) remembered by family, freinds and work colleagues of Underfall Yard who died too early. 7/2/1961 – 03/10/2009 after several near misses.
Later I put on some colour:
“TS Adventure Sea Cadets” cottages seen from Nova Scotia Place
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Here is a “packaging” monoprint I made of the huts in Walberswick.
Walberswick huts, monoprint, image size 8″ x 5″ [Available]
The print is made using a discarded carton from a box of aspirin. It looks like this:
Walberswick huts, plate made from aspirin carton.
The brown colour is shellac, a varnish which helps make the plate last a little longer. I make the picture on the shiny side of the medicine packaging, by cutting off the shiny surface to reveal the rougher cardboard underneath. The plate is very thin and fragile. This plate made 5 prints. I lost one of the chimneys during the process.
Here is an 11-second video showing the print coming off the plate:
The ink is JS Gutenberg Carbon Black etching ink from Intaglio Printmaker in Southwark. The paper is Gampi smooth from Shepherds of London, in Gillingham Street.
I made the print at East London Printmakers in Stepney, on their Henderson etching press.
Thank you to Karen Wicks @iacartroom for sharing her technique and her wonderfully inspiring work.
I am trying an experimental monoprint technique. The idea is to use packaging material to make intaglio “plates” which are then printed using an etching press. This is the first one. I printed it yesterday on the Henderson Press at East London Printmakers. This is a real building, a former brewery, just to the South and East of Tower Bridge. That’s the river Thames you see on the left of…
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Jane Sketching 