Art in the Park

Monday, 2 November 2026

Tuesday 27 October: Visit to West Smithfield

On Tuesday 27 October 14 sketchers arrived at the Henry VIII Arch in West Smithfield. We were incredibly lucky with the weather, the storm and greyness had just passed over and we were blessed with golden October sunshine. West Smithfield offers a lot of different subjects for the artist, including little garden corners, and statues, but no one attempted King Henry VIII himself! We didn't need to seek cover, so people spread out, along the lane to the side of St Bartholemew the Great, into the wonderful courtyard of St Bart's Hospital, and into the Rotunda Garden. There some of us sketched the dramatic statue, who turns out to be "Peace" by John Birnie Philip, installed in 1873, view of St Paul's in the background. In this somewhat secluded garden it was good to have companions in art. The spectacular fountain in the Bart's Courtyard also caught several people's eye, a complex drawing challenge. Some of us also seized the opportunity and went and saw the famous Hogarth Staircase in the hospital. We had a relaxed lunch in 21 West, where we were able to spread out our artwork undisturbed.

The area will become busier when the Museum of London opens shortly, but is somewhere to revisit..

Our next day out will be Tuesday November 24th, when we will go to St Pancras Station, details to follow.

Meanwhile, enjoy looking at our images below.

Image above by Ann Funston

Image above by Diana Marshall

Image above by Diane Umemoto

Three images above by Priscilla Worley

Image above by Sue Lees

Image above by Gill Steiner

Four images above by Audrey Rapier

Image above by Dan Kriven

Image above by Tricia Sharpe

Image above by Janet Payne

Image above by Michael Hill

Image above by Peter Colley

Image above by Diana Butement

Image above by Janet Perkins

Tuesday, 29 September 2026

Tuesday 27 October: Rotunda Garden and surroundings, West Smithfield, EC 1A 9DY

On Tuesday 27 October we will explore West Smithfield, the area to the South of Smithfield Market (shortly to be reopened as the Museum of London). There is the Rotunda Garden, with statue, the newly restored Henry VIII Gatehouse into Barts Hospital (with statue of King Henry himself), the Tudor Gatehouse to St Bartholemew the Great, and the two St Bartholemew Churches, Greater and Less, the exterior of Smithfield Market, and restaurants with awnings. A mixed environment with plenty of interesting variety. There are quite good long views through the trees from the Rotunda Garden. Quite good long views across the area generally. Some interesting ancient alleyways off Middle Street besides St B the Great. Public access to part of the churches' grounds, people sitting at tables. Very little traffic.

We will meet outside the Henry VIII archway on the South side of the square at 11 o'clock. To one side is a vast building covered in scaffolding and plastic, King Henry is on the western side of this.

Henry VIII Gatehouse

Front door of St Bartholemew the Great

Gatehouse to St Bartholemew the Great

Inside the Rotunda Garden

If wet, we can go into both the St Bartholemews, but only dry materials are now allowed. We are not clear whether there is a small entrance fee or not, but if you go in please put in a cash donation, the internet method is not working properly at present. St Bartholemew the Less is very pretty inside, but might have a service going on. Some of the wine bars have awnings over their outside tables and chairs.

Loos can be found in the various wine bars around. Beppe's cafe, where we have lunched previously, hopefully will be open.

Bring your sketching stools in order to get the best views.

The nearest tube stations are Farringdon and Barbican. From Farringdon walk through the middle of Smithfield Market, the road under the arch is not closed off. There will be many buses going down the various arterial roads close by the area. The Rotunda Garden is the green circle on the map, sitting on top of a car park.

Sue's telephone number for the day will be: 07975 864 142

Sunday, 20 September 2026

Art in the Park: Broomfield Park, 15 September 2026

Fifteen artists made it to the park despite the travel obstacles with buses and trains cancelled or delayed. The weather was rather grey and ominous at the outset but the artwork shows that the sun appeared and it became bright and warm. The majority of us set up around one of the lakes, but there is also a sense of other spaces in the park.

Lunch was at 90, The Green.

Broomfield Park has been open to the public since the Council took over the space in 1902. It retains some of its ‘grand house’ features with the pavilion, ponds, conservatory and walled garden. But it is now more diverse: wildlife habitats are being established such as the wetlands and an orchard.

Broomfield House is under scaffolding and behind hoardings. It has been in this state for decades as a result of four fires that reduced it to being unsafe and unusable. This is a sad conclusion to its life as an imposing merchant house from the 17^th century onwards. However, this is not the end of its story. The Heritage Lottery Fund provided some funds a few years ago to research and plan to ‘memorialise’ it. Extensive local consultation has produced a proposal to dismantle it, retaining stable features such as some walls, chimneys and fireplaces, and to transform the footprint into a series of gardens each reflecting the era of the house’s development through the centuries. This project has been submitted for Heritage Fund support.

Cathy Burkinshaw

Gafung Wong

Diane Umemoto

Peter Colley

Peter Illingworth

Sue Loder

Diana Marshall

Avis Dennis

Gill Steiner

Janet Perkins

Do Burgess (from 2025)

Bill Hicks

Sue Lees

Tricia Sharpe

Ann Funston

5

Tuesday, 25 August 2026

Tuesday 15 September: Broomfield Park, Alderman's Hill, Palmers Green, London N13 4HE

On Tuesday 15 September we will make another visit to Broomfield Park, this time to paint the park itself (and not the Conservatory as previously). There are several lakes, with waterbirds, and various attractive parkland structures. Unfortunately the remains of Broomfield House have not yet been made safe and publicly accessible (plans are apparently inching forward for this to happen). Hopefully, there should be lots of light behind trees so that pastoral idyll images can be created. For views of the Park see here:and here:

The section of the park which is the most interesting and has the most variety is the middle part which contains the four lakes. It has not been possible to find a properly labelled map of the park, so we suggest meeting on the path between the oval lake and the arched lake at the point where it meets the oval lake. Many of us will arrive via Alderman's Hill so this location is reached soon after entering.

Meet at 11am as usual.

There is a loo in the park, and the small outdoor cafe in the park opens at 11.00 and you can get coffee and cakes. For lunch, we could go again to 90 On the Green, which is at 90 Alderman's Hill just outside the park and was very satisfactory on our last visit.

Getting to Palmers Green .....

Palmers Green station is about 2 mins from the park. Trains are only every 30 mins though so check Great Northern for times. Trains start at Moorgate, and you need the trains going to Stevenage via Hertford North. Trains to Welwyn use the same line up to Ally Pally so don't get on the wrong train! You can change from the Victoria line at Highbury (easy) or the Piccadilly line at Finsbury Park (very many stairs!).Out of PG station, turn right.

Tube - best bet is Southgate on the Piccadilly line. Buses are at the back of the station. Get either the W6 or 121 and they travel along Aldermans Hill. Get off when you see the shops on the left. the park is opposite. About 10 mins.

Or tube/bus to Turnpike Lane or Wood Green and get the 121 to Enfield Island Village. Also 329 to Enfield but get off at Palmers Green Triangle and walk up Aldermans Hill. About 20 - 25 mins depending on traffic.

Sue's telephone number for the day will be: 07975 864142.

Sunday, 23 August 2026

Tuesday 18 August 2026: St Alphage, London Wall, City of London

On Tuesday 18 August ten Art in the Park sketchers arrived at the ruins of St Alphage in the City of London. St Alphage himself was a Saxon Archbishop of Canterbury who was murdered by the Danes in 1012 (in Greenwich, where he has another church dedicated to him) after refusing to let his impoverished people pay a heavy ransom for his release. He was canonized in 1078, deservedly. The ruins we see now were not his original church but a former priory building which became part of a hospital which survived the Dissolution of the Monasteries, but then had a very chequered history, which included being bombed in the Blitz. Happily, the base of the tower is now preserved and is a charming part of the little garden alongside which also includes a segment of the old London Wall. The ruins are closely embraced by a rust-red raised walkway as well as the completely overpowering vast offices close by which mostly we omitted from our compositions.

We had a pleasant session in the gardens, the heatwave being over and the rains not yet arrived. Most people took on the arches, and all their fascinating texture, but several found areas of interest in the gardens. Please enjoy our images below.

Our next sketch date will be Tuesday 15 September, probably in Broomfield Park, Palmers Green. Details to follow.