A portrait of Marta

Spend the day at the Barbican Centre in London with some friends, a sketch pad, and a couple of pens.

It made good practise for capturing peoples natural body language, and their interaction between one another outside in a relaxed environment.

I also captured scenes which I found to have interesting form and composition. So the way people are all sat around the pond together with the trees in the background giving a sense of place and helping to set the mood.

Pencil sketch of ex footballer now tv pundit, Mark Lawrenson. Requested by my good friend Ollie Brown.

Staple Tye is a very interesting place with some amazing architecture. Unfortunately the original shopping centre of Staple Tye was demolished back in the 1990's, which I remember well as a young lad growing up in the area seeing all the big diggers and construction vehicles. The current shopping centre built in its place is sadly a very unexciting feature of Harlow in comparison.

Luckily most of the original council estates remain, and as I walk across the estates of staple tie, I am left in awe at Gibberd and his team of architects, for there stunning use of diverse shape and form in the structures they've designed, and in the way in which they have arranged them. I'm not just walking along a straight road beside a row of houses but down cul-de-sacs though alleyways and cut throughs, each area so unique from the last giving that sense of adventure and curiosity as to what I'll find around the corner.

I had a great day walking around the estates many of which I haven't been since I was about 13, I feel asthough I have barely touched the surface of Staple Tye though, so many more inspireing sights too sketch, I'll have to return another day to cover it again in more detail.

Another day out sketching with Leon Webb, Rob Davies, Hong Voong, and Hanh Vong. This time we took a trip to the Old Town. Old Harlow pre-dates the first written record in the Domesday Book of 1086, so it is unknown when the town first came into existence. 

We started off at the lodge in East Park, which when built in the 19th century was the former Gate House for the main entrance to the Mark Hall Manor & estate.

Across the road from The Lodge is Fawbert and Barnard school founded in the 1840's by the Fawbert and Barnard Foundation. In 1895 an new building was build to house two schools, one for girls and infants and the other for boys.

High Street is the main shopping centre for people living in the Old Harlow and Churchgate Street area, It consists of many shops, restaurants and cafes, including Dorrington Bakery.

This was the first of Ernest Dorrington's shops to open back in 1924. There are now 15 shops across Hertfordshire, Essex & Cambridgeshire.

Opposite High Street runs Fore Street and Market Street, where there are three of the Old Town pubs, the Chequers, the Marquis of Granby and the Crown. Another very old building which catches the eye right on the corner is this beautiful grade II listed building, The Gables.

Along Market Street is St. John’s ARC, which is a community Arts and Recreation Centre. The ARC offer a varied programme of activities such as concerts, exhibitions and workshops.

On the other side of Old Harlow is The Victoria Hall, built in 1888 to commemorate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee in 1887. The building has housed many events, which is now part of Harlow's history.

The residential areas of Old Harlow are very different from the council estates of the new town, with their overground cables stretching cross the streets, and their huge old chimneys rowed up along the roof tops, they hold a lot of charm.

I think between the four of us we captured Old Harlow well, If only we had more hours of daylight to get some more of the old buildings and pubs in Market Street.

Took a wonder through Temple Fields, and drew this sketch of one of the old factories up there while I was waiting for my acetates from the printers. Lucky I happened to have my sketchbook on me.

I've always been fascinated by industrial architecture, and have noticed this one several times over the years. I was pleased to take the opportunity to sketch it. Might have to take my sketch book up that way again some time.

Sometimes when working on a project for a while its nice to take a brake, change your surroundings, and go outdoors for a sketch.