I sketched with London Urban Sketchers!

Another highlight of my London holiday (and there were so many) was sketching with the London Urban Sketchers on Wednesday 17 July . It was an event organized by Pete Scully with a Jack the Ripper theme.

Mum & I had been to the British Museum in the morning and were taking a day trip from London the next day, so this was a perfect way to spend a Wednesday afternoon in London .We later found out it was the hottest day we were London, at 31 degrees – just like Sydney weather. Just slightly more unexpected !

We met at Whitechapel station at 3pm. I immediately saw a few familiar faces, Sue Pownall (from Oman) and Pete Scully who I met in Barcelona. Mum & I quickly met other friendly London sketchers – Margaret and Dawn and others ( who I didn’t get their names) . We were given a Map with history of Jack the Ripper and the area – we could choose where to go, all splitting off to explore and draw different areas . Much like a Sydney Sketchcrawl. Below are our sketches and photos (and thanks to Dawn Painter too for photos)

We were each given an exclusive Pete Scully mini sketchbook. Who needs to buy souvenirs when you have this! By the end of the day I only drew on a few pages. I had already discovered that I find it hard to multi-sketch-book

I decided to sketch old places – the older the better – there is history everywhere in London. And yet the area is so modern busy and hectic, right on a main road.

by alissa

by Lola

Mum & I & ? sketching. we did not last long in the hot sunshine

We started to sketch sketched with a few others at The Blind Beggar Pub(1894) , but it was in open sun at 3.30 pm very hot and intense.

by Lola

Whitechapel Bell Foundry and Palace on Pillars art installation by Alissa

We then moved onto the Whitechapel Bell Foundry (est 1570) (the yellow building in my drawing) and then down Whitechapel Road to Aldgate High Street

I sketched with three guys (not sure who they were) in the cool of Pret A Manger café, looking out over the street. The Gerkin, The Shard and other modern London buildings were on the skyline. I was fascinated by the modern building/art installation opposite us Palace on Pillars by StudioWeave (in my sketch above) .

in Pete’s book

I then walked across the road with Mum and we sketched in St Botolph’s without-Aldersgate Church (1744) This was my favourite. St Botolph’s is the Patron Saint of Travellers ! that’s us.How could I not feel a connection to this building

We then quickly walked to final meeting spot at Christ Church Spitalfields. Lots of other London Urban Sketchers had already gathered. We talked and sketched more