The Art of England - Drawings and Prints

Tuesday, 7 May 2013

Drawing of Cressing Temple Barns

Cressing Temple

The two 13th Century barns at Cressing Temple, Essex were host to an Antiques and Collectors fair last weekend and I took the opportunity to visit and look at all the curios and antiques on offer. The barns are truly magnificent and a worthy setting for this type of event.

My pen, wash and pencil drawing takes in the two barns, fresh in spring sunshine and perhaps the first decent bathing of sunshine for a good few months. The scale is impressive - note the people I have penned in in my painting. Barley Barn (c.1205) is to the left of the illustration and the Wheat Barn is to the right (c.1257).

The Tudor walled garden is next on my list of Essex jewels that deserve some time spent in them with sketchpad. Watch this space and do get down there for yourselves. The site has been here since 1137 so why wait any longer? The Barns are located Witham and Braintree.

Drawing of Cressing Temple Barns

Thursday, 11 April 2013

Drawing of St Giles, Langford, Essex

St Giles Church Langford Essex

St Giles Church in Langford

The subject for my drawing is the beautiful St. Giles Church in the village of Langford, near Maldon in Essex. I have the double-pleasure of not only being introduced to it for the first time and capturing its beauty, but next year I am honoured to be a best man to a close friend within its 11-12th Century walls. I am really looking forward to the build up to the day.

My late afternoon illustration captures the low sun's light cutting across the grounds, with the mature trees casting their long finger-like shadows across the roads that pass two sides of the Church.

The church is believed to be Early Norman construction, and roman artifacts have been discovered on the site too.

Monday, 8 April 2013

Local Greetings Cards

We have pleasure in announcing the launch of a range of 4 quality local greetings cards.

The first local greetings cards designs to be available as greetings cards are of Tiptree Windmill, The Jam Factory Tiptree), Maldon Promenade, and The Hythe (Maldon).

The cards are an impressive size, measuring 9x5.5 inches (just under standard UK letter size so use a standard stamp). They are printed on quality stiff white card and are blank inside for your own personal geeting. The greetings cards come with a white matching envelope in cellophane.

At present the greetings cards are available from the Wilkin & Sons Tiptree Jam Shop, and the Cheap Shop in Church Road Tiptree. Other retailers will be announced shortly!

Buy Here

Essex Greetings Cards

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Wednesday, 3 April 2013

Drawing of 'The Chantry' in Billericay

Drawing of Chantry House, Billericay

I have been told that Chantry House is Billericay's oldest building and dates back to 1510 (not 1501 as stated on the building). It was from this building that the Pilgrim Fathers set sail to settle in America Aboard the 'Mayflower'.

I recently walked with my wife the length of Billericay High Street on a bright but bitter spring day and visited all my old haunts that where I played as boy. We had a rather nice coffee in the little teashop in 'Slipped Discs' next door.

It was nice to finally sketch and pay homage to such an old building that has been ever-present on the High Street for centuries and seen many generations stroll past it's doors.

I hope you like my drawing and urge you to visit sometime. Prints available soon.

Original drawing of The Chantry, Billericay Hand signed A4 Print of pen and marker sketch on 90lb watercolour paper £14.99
Original 12" x 9" pen, ink and watercolour on 140lb watercolour paper £125
© All illustrations Robert R Wisdom www.theartofengland.co.uk 2012

See where else I have sketched The Art of England in Google maps!

The Chantry in the 1930s

Tuesday, 2 April 2013

Billericay - 30 years on

I thought it might be fun to look back and see how the views I have illustrated have changed in the past 30 years in Billericay.

Not surprisingly, not a lot is my verdict. It was great walking the streets where I spent my childhood. I enjoyed an excellent coffee in the cafe/record shop next to the 'Chantry'. And so, I decided as my next work, to sketch the oldest building in Billericay. The 'Chantry' dates back to 1510 and is the place from which the Pilgrim Fathers embarked to settle in North America.

Keep watching and all the best to everyone in Billericay & the USA :-)