Our outing to David Gilbert's Garden

So very many thanks to David Gilbert for allowing us to sketch in his wonderful garden in Finchley which has been very thoughtfully laid out with wonderful plants, not to mention sculptures some of which are by David.

Fortunately the rain held off so we were able to enjoy the garden and the sketching. It was very Zen.

Some 10 people (including David) turned up and we had packed lunch at a table in the garden. What a good day.

People made a contribution to the National Garden Scheme Charities, which donates to the NHS Charities. David has collected over £1,400 so far this year for NGS charities, which is really excellent.

Below are our pictures:

Ann Funston

Chris Baker

Diane Umemoto

Do Burgess

Gill Steiner

Priscilla Worley

Sue Lees

Janet Payne.                                  

Lindsay Topping

David Gilbert

David Gilbert's Garden 24 September 2024

David Gilbert has kindly invited us to sketch in his garden, which is open on Sunday 8th September as part of the National Gardens Scheme (NGS), but is open specially for us on Tuesday 24 September. David is a recently joined member of Islington Art Society.

The address is 12 Lauradale Road N2 9LU. The NGS website for the garden is https://ngs.org.uk/gardens/12-lauradale-road-n2/ and for the garden itself https://davidgilbertart.com/garden/

Do click on the links and see the photos of the splendid garden with its very special Mediterranean tropical themed plants. The garden is the result of a seven year planting and design programme by David and his wife Mary Medyckyj.

The garden is to be found 300 metres from the 102 and 234 bus stops, 500 metres from the 43 and 134 bus stops. It is 10 minutes walk from East Finchley tube station. There is a CPZ in operation from 11 am to 1 pm so forgot coming by car as there is nowhere to park.

Meet at 11 am at the house. Please make a charity donation, the National Gardens scheme is collecting for Health and Nursing Charities.

Please bring sketching stools. There are some benches but not enough for everybody.

Please bring a packed lunch and any tea, coffee or cold drink that you want.

There are loos available in the house.

And two last minute images from Audrey Rapier of our previous outing to Regents Park Road.

        

Regents Park Road 20 August 24

Some 15 artists made their way to Regents Park Road on a sunny day. Rain was threatened but fortunately confined itself to a few spots whilst we were under an awning at lunchtime.

There was a great variety of street life, cafes with outdoor canopies and seating areas, specialist shops and even much interest in our work from passers by. The railway bridge with its graffiti was a must for some artists as was the nearby Primrose Hill.

We found an accommodating outdoor cafe for an impromptu lunch for so many people!

As usual there was much sharing of information about techniques and Art exhibitions over lunch.

The next outing is on Tuesday 24th September, venue to be confirmed.

Below is some of our work. The pics are below the names.  Don't forget to send your work to me janetat48ock@hotmail.com or to susanklees@gmail.com for posting on this blog.

Diane Umemoto

Do Burgess

Gafung Wong

Gill Steiner

Janet Perkins

Janet Payne

Peter Colley

Priscilla Worley

Sue Loder

Tricia Sharpe

Sue Lees

David Gilbert.                   

Alison Sandifer  

Tuesday 20 August: visit to Regents Park Road, (between Chalk Farm Tube Station and Primrose Hill) NW1 8UR

 On Tuesday 20 August we will visit Regents Park Road, between Chalk Farm tube station and Primrose Hill.  Here is the map of the area, you will see that Regents Park Road is a long loop going southwards from Chalk Farm tube station:

Regents Park Road is quite long.  The section which we suggest is most interesting for sketching is the stretch between the footbridge over the railway line, and the edge of Primrose Hill.   This contains many charming shops and cafes set in Victorian buildings, has wide pavements, many sets of cafe tables and chairs on the pavement, with sunshades, very little traffic, a number of awnings over the shop windows, and several big trees, all of which make up an interesting street scene, and give shade and rain cover.    It is possible that buying a cup of coffee from one of the cafes will enable artists to settle down in comfort under the cafe's sunshade.   There is also a big Victorian pub at one end of the road with a niceish interior, should the weather be terrible. 

Here is Sue's painting prepared earlier:

There is a view of Primrose Hill from the southern end of this stretch of Regents Park Road, and obviously people are free to go up Primrose Hill if they wish (for the amazing views of London, mainly tower blocks, however).

We suggest we meet at the junction of Erskine St at 11 oclock.   The easiest way to get to Regents Park Road is to take the Northern Line to Chalk Farm, then a five minute walk, but the area is well served with buses also.    We will have lunch at whichever cafe takes our fancy.   

Sue's telephone number for the day is 07975 864 142.  Hopefully we will have a dry sunny day.

Tuesday 16 July: Visit to Island Gardens, Isle of Dogs, Docklands

Only six artists made the trek to Island Gardens on Tuesday, 16 July, although one more made a separate trip a few days before.  By a miracle, we had a good dry day, with sunny intervals, unfortunately mostly later in the day.  We were duly impressed with the amazing view of Greenwich's palladian Royal Hospital site, and several of us tackled this.  It was quite a challenge, and would probably be easier with afternoon sun which was too late for most of us.   We also looked in other directions to catch the old power station downriver, the domed entrance to the tunnel, and the trees in the Gardens where we were.  For completeness, the earlier sketches done on a reconnaissance visit are also included.

Our next sketching day will be Tuesday 20 August, when we will be going to Regents Park Road, between Chalk Farm tube station and Primrose Hill, details to follow.

Enjoy our images!

Three images above by Audrey Rapier

Image above by Peter Colley

Image above by Gill Steiner

Two images above by Priscilla Worley

Image above by Janet Payne

Image above by Janet Perkins

Two images above by Tricia Sharpe

Image above by Ann Funston

Two images above by Sue Lees

Tuesday 16 July: Island Gardens Park, Millwall, Saunders Ness Road, Docklands, Tower Hamlets E14 3EB

On Tuesday July 16 we are going to a new location, Island Gardens Park in Docklands.   The key feature of this small riverside park is the outstanding view across the river to the wonderful buildings of Greenwich.  These include the Royal Naval College (Greenwich Hospital), the National Maritime Museum, the Queen's House, and the Cutty Sark.   In the park there is the domed building which covers the entrance to the Greenwich Foot Tunnel.   As well as looking over to Greenwich there are options from a walkway that runs alongside the river through rather spectacular buildings/homes to a dock that looks over a more industrial landscape.

The park is not very big, but we suggest that we meet at the entrance to the tunnel at 11 o'clock as this is easily identifiable.   A map and other details can be found  here:     The park is close to the Docklands Light Railway Island Gardens station, the DLR starts at the Bank station, and you will need a train which terminates at Lewisham.  Alternatively, take the Jubilee tube line to Heron Quays  and then Island Gardens is a few stops down the DLR.  The interchange from Heron Quays is closer than the one at Canary Wharf and it is not at all clear from some of the maps. 

As this location is rather off our beaten track, Janet and Tricia have kindly done a recce for us and established that there are two cafes in the park, and a loo, and there is also a pub alongside which does food, a bit more expensive (The Waterman's Arms).  We can decide where to go when we get there and see how many people we have to accommodate.   

We particularly recommend bringing a stool on this excursion, and in view of current weather, an umbrella.  If the day is especially wet and rainy, we can walk across the river and seek shelter amongst the Greenwich buildings.

Sue's mobile number for the day is: 07975 864142.

Janet and Tricia  sent back the following sketches to inspire you:

Image above by Janet Payne

Two images above by Tricia Sharpe