Prittlewell - First Pen & Ink

Prittlewell Essex

Fresh from Billericay School I studied at Southend-on-Sea College of Art & Technology in Carnarvon Road.

My first drawing teacher was a lovely white bearded illustrator by the name of Reg Gray. He was a sweet natured man, quiet and patient. His ability to draw creatures, naming bones and muscle groups that held them together and make them function amazed me. Every flick of his pencil seemed to have purpose and description. Brilliant. His knowledge of living creatures knew no bounds. Since the advent of the internet many years later I have discovered that he illustrated some of the comics and books that I enjoyed so much, but I never knew at the time which is a shame.

It was on a outdoors drawing expedition of Reg's that I sketched this picture at the tender age of 17 years old. It was probably the first time I drew a building with dip pen and ink looking through my sketchbook. St Mary's, Prittlewell, was a 5 minute walk from the college and I can tell from my sketch it was a sunny day. I remember being pleased with the result and pen and ink became a favourite technique.

Thanks Reg for any ability or technique that rubbed off on me, wherever you are. Respect.

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A4 Print (hand signed) £14.99 GBP

St Mary's Prittlewell, Essex
Hand signed A4 Print of pen sketch on Bockingford 190gsm watercolour paper £14.99
© Robert R Wisdom www.theartofengland.co.uk 2012 

Drawing of Beccles

Drawing of Beccles

Beccles is a lovely market town on the River Waveney in Suffolk.

I had moored up here and visited the town by foot. Perched on a hill Beccles is most interesting and picturesque with its independent shops and twisty streets. This drawing of Beccles I sketched is of Blyburgate which I have since learnt is part derived (gate) taken from the Old Norse for 'street'. So its seems the Vikings have visited this part of England and left their mark.

To the left is the local Pet Stores and the Marmalade Tree shop is a little further up the hill, which eventually leads up toward the Church - my focal point for this drawing.

It was during this visit that I proposed to my now wife during a golden sunset at the marina, surrounded by a brood of rather puzzled ducks. Beccles will always be in our hearts.

Please choose original drawing or hand signed print: A4 Print (hand signed) £14.99 GBP Original 12" x 9" sketch £125.00 GBP

Illustration of Blyburgate, Beccles, Suffolk.
Hand signed and annotated A4 Print of pen and ink illustration on 90lb watercolour paper £14.99
Original 12" x 9" pen and ink illustration on 140lb watercolour paper £125
© Robert R Wisdom www.theartofengland.co.uk 2012 

Drawing of Lavenham Market Square

Lavenham Suffolk

My wife and I visited Lavenham, Suffolk a couple of years back and stayed in an excellent Guest house called Highfield House, run by a very charming couple. Its a great place to ramble and every street corner greets you with a Medieval building or pretty scene for an drawing of Levenham.

I was particularly taken in by the wall in the Swan Public House, which had scribblings and signatures of allied airmen stationed locally, penned during the Second World War. Some of those brave men of the RAF and USAAF 487 Bombardment Group wouldn't have come back after making their mark even more touching. We remember them - especially with Remembrance day looming.

Fitting perhaps that this illustration captures a memorial in it's foreground.

We enjoyed some of Suffolk's best brew outside the Angel Hotel - Aspall Cider - bathed in a little sunshine in the market square of this quintessential English village. Bliss.

Well worth a visit - time stood still.

Please choose A4 Print (hand signed) £14.99 GBP Original 12" x 9" sketch £125.00 GBP

Illustration of Angel Inn, Market Square, Lavenham, Suffolk.
Hand signed and annotated A4 Print of pen and ink illustration on 90lb watercolour paper £14.99
Original 12" x 9" pen and ink illustration on 140lb watercolour paper £125
© Robert R Wisdom www.theartofengland.co.uk 2012 

Kings Head Chigwell Illustration

Kings Head Chigwell

This scene I illustrated, is possibly the most famous 'Ye Olde Kings Head' ever. 

Or as I like to call it 'The Old Kings Head' in Chigwell, Essex which is said by many to be none other than the inspiration for the Maypole Inn in Charles Dickens' Barnaby Rudge.

Whether that's true (or fiction if you'll forgive the pun), it has stood relatively unchanged for hundreds of years and stands as a constant landmark in Chigwell. It now can boast an (even more?) famous owner who lives close by - our very own Lord Sugar. Beat that Charles.

Pictured at Christmas time it is one of my favourite quintessentially English Pubs.

The original black and white pen illustration for sale on request. Please enquire!

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A4 Print (hand signed) £14.99 GBP

Ye Olde Kings Head, High Road Chigwell,  Essex.
Hand signed and annotated A4 Print of pen and ink illustration on cartridge paper £14.99
Original black and white pen illustration (approx A3) £125
© Robert R Wisdom www.theartofengland.co.uk 2012 

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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.

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A4 Print (hand signed) £14.99 GBP

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 

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.

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A4 Print (hand signed) £14.99 GBP

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?

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A4 Print (hand signed) £14.99 GBP

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 

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.

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A4 Print (hand signed) £14.99 GBP

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.

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A4 Print (hand signed) £14.99 GBP

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 

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.

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A4 Print (hand signed) £14.99 GBP Original 12" x 9" sketch £125.00 GBP

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 

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.

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A4 Print (hand signed) £14.99 GBP

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