We are going to make our first visit to the Victoria Embankment Gardens, which features a fine High Renaissance style watergate which was built in 1626 for the Duke of Buckingham, (the Thames has moved since this boating essential was built), and a number of statues to nineteenth century notables: Arthur Sullivan, with mourning nymph, a camel, part of the Imperial Camel Corps, Robert Burns, etc., etc. There is also a fishpond, part of a Lutyens memorial (the Cheylemore Memorial) and bandstand. The garden maintenance is supposed to be good. There should be plenty to sketch, but if people want something grittier, the Embankment tube entrance is interesting, hopefully without roadworks, and over the wall and across the Embankment road is the Thames and Cleopatra's needle with attendant sphinxes.
Meet at 11 am in the Gardens by the Villiers Street entrance, close to the Embankment tube exit
There is a cafe and loo. If wet, we could sit in the bandstand, or underneath the railway lines going to Charing Cross.
There will be many buses going to Charing Cross, Villiers Street is just to the east side of Charing Cross, and the Northern, Bakerloo, Circle and District lines stop at Embankment Station.
We suggest you bring your sketching stools to help achieve the perfect composition. There are benches, but they may be already taken or in the wrong place.
Sue's telephone number for the day is 07975 864 142 (but please note that due to the incompetance of O2, the mobile service provider, it may not be possible to send reply texts, and there is a problem with receiving voicemail also).
Finally, some late images from our day in the St John's Wood Churchyard, a series of line drawings by Alison Sandifer. Enjoy!
