Next Art in the Park sketching day: Tuesday 6 June at Gillespie Park, Islington Ecology Centre 191 Drayton Park, Highbury, N5 1PH

We have realised that we have not yet visited Islington’s flagship nature park, Gillespie Park, right on our doorstep.   There are several smallish meadows, with areas of woodland, generally varied habitat as befits a nature reserve.  We expect that the Park will be looking very floriforous in early June, in particular the lupins will be in flower in one of the meadows, and there should also be highly visible ox-eye daisies and wild carrot in bloom, as well as many other wildflowers, dog roses, etc.   The Park has several ponds, with bridges, so an opportunity to paint reflections.     Lots of details, including a map of the Park, can be found here

We will meet at 11 o’clock, when we will be greeted by a member of the Ecology Centre’s staff.   (So it would be good if we made it by 11!)  The Islington Ecology Centre is close to the Drayton Park entrance, and contains within it the all-important lavatories.    The Park has various access points:  Drayton Park, Gillespie Road, Quill Street and Seven Sisters Road.    The nearest tube station is Arsenal, but Finsbury Park is close to the northern extremity of the Park.   Drayton Park overground station is also close.    The following buses go reasonably close: 4, 19, 236.

There is no catering in the Ecology Centre, so you will need to bring your picnic lunch.   If the weather is nice, we can all eat together out in the fields somewhere.   If the weather is not good, we have decided to go on to Blighty Coffee, which is a cafe on the Blackstock Road up near Finsbury Park Station. (Address: 35-37 Blackstock Road, N4 2JF).    Its interior bristles with things to draw, with a British wartime emphasis.   A good series of photos can be seen here     It also has good reports of its coffee and catering.

We suggest that you bring your sketching stools, as there are seats around but not necessarily where you want them, and we look forward to seeing everyone.    Sue’s telephone number for the day is: 07975 864142.

SKETCHING AT THE ESTORICK

Seven artists met in the Estorick caffe in Canonbury Square for a sketching session before the splendid talk on Giacomo Balla organised for the IAS at the Estorick Gallery in the evening. We had intended to meet in Canonbury Square itself and sketch outside but it proved to be one of the wettest days of the year so far. Drought, what drought? This was a deluge, so, ever resourceful we retreated to the caffe and indulged in cups of tea. The caffe was cosy, snug and Italian (hence the two ffs in caffe) with views of the rain soaked garden through a wonderful glass conservatory extension. We all worked hard, despite the lack of the leafy square and enjoyed the talk in the evening.


The next outing is to Gillespie Park on Tuesday 6 June at 11 am, but watch this space for more details."

Corrected date for May outing: Wednesday 17 May at Canonbury Square, followed by Estorick Collection visit

Oops:  apologies, made a mistake with the date in my original post for our May meeting.   The correct date is Wednesday 17 May at 3pm, all other details as announced in previous post.