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