Visit to Victoria Park, Bow, East London on 17 July

Thirteen committed sketchers made their way to East London's Victoria Park on Tuesday 17 July. We had a great day. There was plenty to paint and the weather was lightly sunny, so we did not boil. Also there were a lot of handily placed trees and benches, especially around the Western Lake and the Pavilion Cafe where we mostly remained.

The area around the park is also interesting artistically, and some of us started sketching before making it into the park:

For everyone else, the Chinese Pagoda on its own island in the lake was an unmissable attraction:

The Pavilion Cafe (as well as producing very nice homemade lunches) is a fascinating subject in its own right, and one after-lunch picture has made it to the editorial desk. During the day we enjoyed seeing all the beautiful waterfowl, and we were particularly charmed by the coot nest, six feet away from the Cafe, where several adult birds seemed to be attending to three baby coots - with red fluff on their heads, all under the noses of the cafe's customers.

Victoria Park turned out to be a great place for painters, so will go on the list for a revisit in the future, when hopefully the 277 bus will have made it back onto its route all the way to Highbury and Islington.

For regular Art in the Parkers, we have a slot in the Cass Art building near the Angel in late September where we could have an exhibition/showing of some work done or worked up from our days out together. Ann K-H has the vision for this, so we suggest that you contact her or speak to her when you see her.

Tuesday 17 July Sketch Day in Victoria Park, Grove Road, Bow,London E3 5TB – Meet at the Pavilion Café at 11 o’clock

On Tuesday 17 July we will visit the West Side of Victoria Park.    Inspired by our success in reaching the Horniman Museum, in South London, we thought that we would explore eastwards.   Victoria Park is a historic open space sprinkled with interesting structural features and assorted lakes and ponds.

The Park is pretty vast, so we thought that we would assemble at the Pavilion Café, and paint in the Western section of the park, which contains a lake and the famous Pagoda, on its own island.   There are various other structures in this side of the Park, including the Dogs of Alcibiades which guard one of the entrances.   Further details here

The nearest tube station is Mile End, on the Central Line and the District Line and the Hammersmith and City, 12 minutes’ walk away.   Bethnal Green tube is a minute further away.   Map is here 

From Mile End station the walk is straightforward:    turn left and cross over Mile End Road. Turn right onto Grove Road – it’s about 10-15 minutes’  walk straight down. Alternatively, you can also walk most of the way through Mile End Park, which runs parallel to Grove Road. You will first arrive at the Crown Gates. On Grove Road you can catch bus 277 or 425 to the middle of the park which cuts out the walk.

Alternatively, the 277 goes from Highbury Corner, FIRST STOP ON ST PAUL'S ROAD, and stops at the Park, be aware that it is a lengthy journey.

We suggest you bring your sketching stools.   If wet we can sketch in the café which overlooks the lake.   We look forward to seeing you.   

Sue’s tel number for the day is: 07975 864142

Repeat Visit to the Horniman Museum, Forest Hill, South London

Tuesday 12 June was a greyish day, in total contrast to the weather on our previous visit to the Horniman Museum and Gardens, when the light was dazzling. This did not put off seven of our intrepid travelling artists who had a most productive day both inside and outside the Museum. Most of the art done in the morning was outside, where the grey light was co-operatively steady, and we sketched the gardens, the bandstand, the conservatory, the live animal collection, and naturally, the velociraptor cantering energetically in his prehistoric garden. In the afternoon it got damper, and we went and examined the indoor exhibits, and found fascination in the birds in the glass cabinets - and gave life to them, and particularly to the dodo, who walks again in the picture below. The sloth, too, was made alluring, and finally, one person tackled some of the musical instruments.

There are many subjects still not sketched - no one has yet drawn the walrus on his iceberg, a fine sight calling out for some tonal attention, and some of the Horniman's galleries are still shut for renovation,to be reopened very shortly. As we were leaving, we realised also that no-one has painted the interesting front facade and gardens of the Museum, which cried out for the eye of the artist. We will have to go back, maybe in winter-time. We had a great day, and a jolly gathering over lunch

Revisit to theHorniman Museum and Gardens on Tuesday 12 June

We are going to go back to the Horniman Museum and Gardens, 100 London Rd, Forest Hill, London SE23 3PQ, as we were so dazzled by the park on our last outing. The grounds were lovely, with views, there were animals, butterfly house, prehistoric garden, somewhere a sunken garden, and we felt that we did not explore anything like all the possibilities in the time available. Most of us did not even go into the Museum, which is our fall-back position if wet, although the cafe has large sunshades, there is a covered bandstand with views of London, etc.


We also now understand the somewhat confusing circular geography of the park, and we can now say that we will meet at the park cafe, at 11 o'clock.  This is the only cafe, and it is straight up the hill from the London Road entrance, more or less in the centre of the park. See map here:


We found the London overground train ride very satisfactory going from Highbury and Islington and other stops along its journey to Croydon. The train stop is Forest Hill. The Horniman is a five to ten minute walk from Forest Hill station. Alternatively, there is a route from Waterloo, take the Jubilee line to Canada Water, then Overground to Forest Hill Station. When you get off the train you use the footbridge over the tracks to get to the correct road (London Road) and it is an easy and short walk to the Museum.(At Canada Water make sure you get on the train with the correct destination, Crystal Palace as there is more than one route.)


Entrance to the main Museum is free, there is a charge for the aquarium, butterfly house, special exhibitions.


We look forward to seeing you on this sketchdate. Sue's number for the day is 07975 864142.

Trip on 15 May to the Horniman Museum and Park

Another new destination for Art in the Park on Tuesday, 15 May, the Horniman Museum and Park in South London. We were blest with fabulous weather, and we were delighted with the many artistic possibilities of the Park, which contained a beautiful Victorian conservatory, in elegance a rival to those in Kew Gardens, a Bandstand with views to London, animals (alive, as well as the Museum specimens), a butterfly house, a prehistoric garden with its own Velociraptor (in sculptural form), the Museum buildings themselves, children with their parents, etc. etc. We rushed ahead with our work, but we did not really explore either the park or the Museum. Most people sketched outside, but one person went inside to inspect the exhibits, and produced a series of drawings of musical instruments. Eleven artists made the trip, which was surprisingly easy once onto the London Overground.

We are very tempted to go back next time to the Horniman, as we feel that we have barely scratched the surface of subjects to paint, also there is a very good cafe with both indoor and outdoor space. Info will follow on the next blog posting.

May Sketch Date: Tuesday 15 May, at the Horniman Museum

We have decided to visit the Horniman Museum and Gardens, 100 London Rd, Forest Hill, London SE23 3PQ, in order to have a wet weather option, as forecasting spring weather is so difficult. We will meet at the main entrance at 100 London Road at 11 o'clock.

The Horniman, deep in South East London, is surprisingly easy to get to on the London Overground from Highbury and Islington and other stops along its journey to Croydon. The train stop is Forest Hill, and details are here:     The Horniman is a five to ten minute walk from Forest Hill station.

 There are extensive gardens, with features including a bandstand and a Victorian Conservatory, and a collection of animals, all suitable for outdoor sketching. Also some distant views of London, and the countryside southwards. If the day is wet, we can draw in the Museum, although you need to bring your sketching stool as they do not provide these. Please remember that they only allow dry material work inside the Museum. (There are also various covered locations outside). There is an eclectic collection featuring natural history, anthropology, ancient Egypt, music, etc.,

Entrance to the main Museum is free, there is a charge for the aquarium, butterfly house, special exhibitions.   There is a cafe.

We look forward to seeing you on this sketchdate. Sue's number for the day is 07975 864142.

April 11th: Stoke Newington Church Street

Our chosen date for our April outing, Wednesday 11th, was grey and deeply uninspirational, but not actually raining. Despite this, six artists came to Stoke Newington Church Street, and all but one immediately disappeared into the comfortable surroundings of The Green Room Cafe.
One outdoor painting was produced before the artist got too chilly to carry on, but mostly we concentrated on the customers of the Green Room. We had a great time capturing faces and gestures in this busy cafe,and some of the decor, although one person preferred the seclusion of the semi-covered backyard, and we enjoyed the excellent cuisine on offer. We may have achieved our aim of getting together some work to put into the impending IAS Spring Show in the Stoke Newington Library Gallery round the corner!