The Art of England - Drawings and Prints: Essex

Showing posts with label Essex. Show all posts

Friday 19 October 2012

Drawing of St Mary Magdalen, Billericay

Billericay Essex

The church of St Mary Magdalen is the 18th century church that dominates the heart of Billericay's High Street. The first time I drew this I was a student at The Billericay School. In 1970 the BBC's Songs of Praise was to be filmed within the churches walls, and my Art teacher (either Mrs King or Mr Brown) suggested that if I drew the church, they would see to it that it was hung in the church office and I would see it on TV along with countless other millions of viewers.

I set about my masterpiece with enthusiasm and from memory it was quite an accomplished piece for my age but it never once made it as far as the cathode ray tube, and I never saw it again.

This drawing is a revisit to the scene many years later. Chapel Street's ever-present cottages disappearing to the left and the High Street and Billericay's shops to the right. The war memorial proudly displays the fallen from the wars the local townsfolk have lost son's to, contributing to all our freedoms.

I think its a pity (aesthetically speaking) that this focal point now is encased in safety railings. Sign of the times.

St Mary Magdalen Church, High Street, Billericay, Essex.
Hand signed A4 Print of pen and marker sketch on Bockingford 190gsm watercolour paper £14.99
© Robert R Wisdom www.theartofengland.co.uk 2012

Tuesday 9 October 2012

White Hart Billericay illustration

White Hart Billericay

The White Hart in Billericay High Street, or "The New White Hart (NWH) in its present guise.

The Post Office sits behind where, as a child, I used to buy my 'First Day Covers' knowing they would be valuable one day. They're not but the memories are.

Nice to see live music now livens the pub up and its a focal point for lively socialising just as any good pub should be.

The White Hart, (now NWH) 138 High Street, Billericay, Essex.
Hand signed A4 Print of pen and marker sketch on Bockingford 190gsm watercolour paper £14.99
© Robert R Wisdom www.theartofengland.co.uk 2012

The Three Horseshoes Billericay illustration

Three Horseshoes Billericay

This is a most attractive Grade II listed building in Billericay High Street. It was originally the Three Horseshoes Public House I have found out, then a private residence and now a firm of solicitors.

I love the dormers in the roof - something special about them and as a child always fantasised about having a bedroom in one. In fact my father ran his studio in the dormer space further down the High Street in Hill House, then in its basement space a few years later.

Now there's another illustration begging to be done?

139 High Street, Billericay, Essex.
Hand signed A4 Print of pen and marker sketch on Bockingford 190gsm watercolour paper £14.99
© Robert R Wisdom www.theartofengland.co.uk 2012

Monday 8 October 2012

The Red Lion Billericay illustration

Red Lion Billericay

Now here's a pub that's pretty much at the heart of Billericay's High Street. I think everyone that has ever visited a pub in Billericay has been in this one at some time. Especially on a Saturday after a visit to New Lodge has ended in a home win for Billericay Town FC.

The name of an Inn in Billericay called the 'Red Lion' goes way back to the 13th and 14th centuries where it was frequented by Pilgrims. My illustration is at dusk when the pub starts to fill on a Friday night!

Must pop back there myself soon.

The Red Lion, 113 High Street, Billericay, Essex.
Hand signed A4 Print of pen and marker sketch on Bockingford 190gsm watercolour paper £14.99
© Robert R Wisdom www.theartofengland.co.uk 2012

N. Shelley's of Billericay illustration

N Shelleys Billericay

For as long as I can remember N. Shelleys has been trading in Billericay High Street. They have been going for 85 years now, part of the fabric (if you forgive the pun) of Billericay's High Street, and it's alway a comfort to see some of the older shops still alive and kicking.

It was sad years back to see Cottis' family bakers, Kitts hardware store and more recently Woolworths, with its original wooden varnished doors with brass fingerplates, disappear. And Essex Playthings of course - any child of the 70's will remember the toy shop brimming with Action Men and Airfix kits and ran by two lovely old ladies.

In this illustration is the Reading Rooms which dates back to 1886. The archway leading under N. Shelley lead to an engineer who used to service old classic cars.

N. Shelley and Reading Rooms, High Street, Billericay, Essex.
Hand signed A4 Print of pen and marker sketch on Bockingford 190gsm watercolour paper £14.99
© Robert R Wisdom www.theartofengland.co.uk 2012

Saturday 6 October 2012

Tiptree Windmill illustration

Tiptree

It snowed heavily overnight and I went for an early morning stroll to witness the magic white transformation.

The blanket of snow had covered the modern road surfaces, drains, markings and for just a moment I felt transported back in time when roads were just plain tracks and formal pavements were reserved for the cities.

The Tiptree Windmill ('Messing Maypole Mill') has dominated the view into Tiptree from Kelvedon since 1775 and is one of Tiptree's iconic landmarks. It only stopped milling as late as 1962 but as with all windmills is as charismatic as ever. Here is an illustration that captures its timelessness.

Hand signed A4 Print of pen and marker sketch on Bockingford 190gsm watercolour paper £14.99
Original 12' x 9" pen and marker sketch on 140lb water colour paper SOLD
© Robert R Wisdom www.theartofengland.co.uk 2012

Friday 5 October 2012

Drawing of The Chequers Billericay

The Chequers Billericay

The Chequers in Billericay, Essex, the town of my birth. My good friend rented Chequers Cottage, seen down the side of this picture at the rear of the pub for a year or two, selling art, frames and collectors cards and shared the space with a lovely lady that sold amber jewellery.

This original drawing of The Chequers Billericay was one of several of Billericay High Street - I had a frantic spell 20 years ago sketching and the drawings and illustrations are very nostalgic for me and capture the essence of Billericay as I saw it. This particular scene is at Billericay's heart. It has seen a lot of events in its history - special for me were the Billericay Town F.C. F.A. Vase victorious homecomings of the late 1970's.

More drawings to come so do follow my pages.

Chequers, 44 High Street, Billericay, Essex.
Hand signed A4 Print of pen and marker sketch on Bockingford 190gsm watercolour paper £14.99
© Robert R Wisdom www.theartofengland.co.uk 2012

Sunday 30 September 2012

Waltham Abbey in Winter

This is Waltham Abbey Church, depicted towards dusk after a fresh fall of snow. This illustration was completed a number of years ago when I was 27 and featured locally on a set of christmas cards, part of a set of illustrations commissioned to depict Essex at Christmas.

It was drawn with an indian ink technical pen and hand coloured with markers (see the Essex pages of this website for other illustrations from Loughton, Abridge, Chigwell and Theydon Bois).

Waltham Abbey

Waltham Abbey, Essex.
Hand signed A4 Print of pen and marker sketch on Bockingford 190gsm watercolour paper £14.99
© Robert R Wisdom www.theartofengland.co.uk 2012

Friday 28 September 2012

St Botolphs Priory Colchester illustration

Tucked away in a back street between the castle and the town rail station in Colchester, is an historic ruin that I had seen pictures of but never managed to figure out where it was exactly. My Son had to meet in St Botolph's Church for a special service with Air Cadets and veterans and the Church was beside the ancient priory which dates back to the 1100s.

I took the opportunity to sit and illustrate St Botolph's Priory on what was a rather overcast and windy morning. I was joined by a smartly dressed man collecting litter who was interested in my sketch. He told me a little about himself. Although homeless he liked to help out by voluntarily keeping the church and Priory grounds free of litter and encouraging youngsters to stay on the straight and narrow. Nice man and an example of goodness in the face of adversity.

He is my lasting memory of the illustration - it happens so many times if you spend an hour with a sketch pad.

St Botolphs Priory

Hand signed A4 Print of pen and marker sketch on Bockingford 190gsm watercolour paper £14.99
Original 12' x 9" pen and marker sketch on 140lb water colour paper £125
© Robert R Wisdom www.theartofengland.co.uk 2012

Heybridge Basin illustration

Heybridge Basin is tucked away down a tiny road and is a fine place to have a beer and watch skippers negotiate the lock. What does impress is these final lock gates, somehow holding the whole River Chelmer and it's boats upstream.

I took out my pens and sat next to the lock keeper's cottage and drew this illustration while my family went for a short stroll along the picturesque sea wall spotting boats and their crystal clear reflections on the water. In nearby Maldon another successful Regatta was held just the day before. The Essex coast is still a very lively part of England running for an estimated 350 miles. I will pen plenty more scenes along the edge of this county.

The lock gates and a heavy chain lead the eye to the scene's focal point - The Old Ship pub, with the Jolly Sailor just in view behind.

Heybridge Basin

Hand signed A4 Print of pen and marker sketch on Bockingford 190gsm watercolour paper £14.99
Original 12' x 9" pen and marker sketch on 140lb water colour paper £125
P&P only £2.75
© Robert R Wisdom www.theartofengland.co.uk 2012

Colchester Castle illustration

Drawing the castle in Colchester whilst perched on a couple of chairs in the rose beds, my 9 year old daughter and I are visited by an old lady keen to see our sketches.

She tells us of her own art and complements us both on our drawings and shows us a tin of what she has bought for lunch. It's nice to connect with the scene - the people and the sounds. This is why I think drawing a scene is more fulfilling than photography in many ways. As I finish my artwork I can hear my son's remembrance day drill with the air cadets finishing just behind me to mark an anniversary of the end of the Battle of Britain. This is England.

Each of my illustrations reminds me of the time I spent recording it more than a photo ever could. Colchester Castle never fails to delight - the squirrels ever present and friendly are a delight to watch and feed. We shall return.

Colchester Castle

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