DODDINGTON HOSPITAL, Doddington, Cambridgeshire. UK

The waiting room corridor of the Doddington hospital physio department. I arrived 5 minutes early and he was 5 minutes late...resulting in 10 minutes to sketch!

FLOODS FERRY, March, Cambridgeshire. UK

Noodler's red/black Ink & White Acrylic in large moleskin sketchbook.

Popped to the pet store straight from the school run this morning and had 15 minutes to kill before they opened so I sketched the workshop and van in front of me.
Floods Ferry runs from Doddington straight through to the March bypass, the pet store is at the March end of the road.

DODDINGTON BUS STOP

Doddington Bus Stop
Large moleskin sketchbook, coloured pencil and Noodler's red/black ink

Another sketch from the truck after the school run.
I parked in the lay-by and captured this man in ink and coloured pencil before he hopped onto the bus, I then filled the background in around him after he'd gone.

DODDINGTON VILLAGE

A quick sketch from the truck yesterday while making the school run. I completed the ink sketch of the figures quickly on location then added the background and the colour back at home.

Isn't it strange how I make this trip every day and I could not remember what the background would have shown behind the figures, for this reason the background is a little 'imaginative'.

DODDINGTON HIGH STREET

HB pencil in moleskin

I arrived a little early at the school to collect Harry yesterday afternoon so I rummaged through my bag to find my moleskin and realised I had left my travel kit at home (This happens when you change handbags mid-week) Luckily I am a forward thinker and had already stashed a HB pencil in the inside zipped pocket of all my handbags enabling me to capture a quick sketch!

DODDINGTON CRICKET CLUB

The final Sunday game for the Doddington Cricket Club this season took place on Sunday 9th and I offered to make the 'teas' giving me the perfect excuse to watch my Son play, try to understand the game a little more and capture a sketch.

Oh....They won!

DODDINGTON CARNIVAL DAY

Today was carnival day in Doddington. Sadly I couldn't make it to see the floats pass through the village but I did make it to the recreation ground at Benwick Road for the sports events and fare afterwards.

It was very busy partly due to continuing support from the villagers and partly due to the sun shining for what felt like the first time in weeks!

I sat just outside the refreshments hall which probably wasn't such a good idea as everyone that passed me either going in or coming out making them 'mobile' models in the strongest sense, speed was of the essence and no sooner I put pen to paper they were gone. In hind sight I should have grabbed my camping chair from the truck and situated myself across the other side of the sports field where spectators were lazing on the grass and soaking up the sun.

I did manage to come away with something in my W&N sketchbook though and although the quality is nothing special they will at least serve as memories of the day.

My youngest hit 3 out of 3 on the coconut stand, he is 9... Way to go Harry!!!

DODDINGTON VILLAGE, Cambridgeshire. UK

Pulled the truck into the car park of 'The George' public house this morning and sketched the house opposite, next to the Methodist Hall.
It's such a pretty house with it's deep blue shutters and unique trees lined up at the front looking like lollipops.
My mind occupied, I forgot to take the name of the house, it's bound to have one many do around the village.

I may colour this at some point or at least colour those decorative shutters that always catch my eye as I pass daily.

DODDINGTON COUNTRY SHOW 2007

Last year the 13th Alabama Infantry elected me as their 'resident' artist and today I went over to the country show at Washbrook Farm, Doddington to spend a couple of hours with them...sketch book in hand!



The infantry went about their day as I set up my chair among them and captured a few sketches in my A5 Winsor & Newton, working directly with ink. A fantastically challenging and productive afternoon and an opportunity I am most grateful for.

DODDINGTON CHURCH, Cambridgeshire. UK

Lge moleskin sketchbook and 0.1 pigment liner.

The sun finally broke through yesterday and lasted the whole day. My eldest decided to make the most of the good weather by meeting friends for some cricket practice and I made use of my journey to deliver him there by creating a quick sketch of Doddington church. This view is quite a distance from the church and there is a huge field leading to the spot I sketched but time was limited and it was the church itself and the surrounding rooftops that caught my interest, so that is where I concentrated my time.

DODDINGTON HOSPITAL, Cambridgeshire. UK

A visit to Doddington hospital took up the best part of my day today so I made good use of the waiting time using my small moleskin sketchbook and Edding 1800 profipen.

I tried out a new handbag travel kit I've been considering consisting of two brush pens filled with diluted ink; one brown and one black and a pigment liner. Notice: no pencil or rubber, this is my new personal challenge 'Lead-free Figures'.
The diluted ink seems to absorb into the moleskin paper much easier than watercolour and will save me having to cart my watercolour pencils around for a hint of tone/colour required on location.



I enjoy a neutral or monochrome palette in art so I felt this new kit was worth a few test sketches. I am pleased with the results and the limited kit fits neatly into my slim Caran D'Ache pencil tin which, in turn, fits neatly into my tiny handbag...Perfect!

ST MARY'S CHURCH, Doddington, Cambridgeshire. UK

St Mary's Churchyard: Pigment liner and watercolour.

Friday night cricket practice has began, taking both of my boys with it!
It was such a fine evening I decided to take my sketchbook rather than come back home after dropping them off.

I drove into Doddington village and before long I was parked aside St Mary's church. Like a magnet, churches seem to pull me toward them, and the churchyard looked so pretty in the dappled sunlight I was not about to resist!

13th WW Sketchcrawl - Chatteris Museum

Saturday the 17th marked the date for the 13th Worldwide Sketchcrawl when Artists from all over the world meet up and sketch for the day.

I met up with some members of the Fenland Visual Arts Collective in Chatteris where, thanks to Jenny Furlong, we spent the day sketching in Chatteris Museum. We were also joined by Emma-Jane Rosenberg (E-J from Wet Canvas) Emma-Jane is a warm, friendly woman who fitted right in from the start, we all had a wonderful day together.

Rob Morris kindly supplied hot drinks at his home and a place to lunch (Thankyou Rob!). We stopped by The Old Bakery Cafe on the way there to purchase some delicious cakes.

I decided to use a Hahnemuhle Travel Booklet 9x14cm Portrait. I purchased this from the SAA where, as a member, I paid a mere £1.75 and to my surprise discovered it was a duo pack...That's under 90p each! Each booklet contains 20 pages of unlined 140gsm sketch paper and there is a pocket at the rear of the booklet. The cover is soft and natural in appearance allowing you to write/sketch on it. I thought it would be fun to title the cover and then try to fill half the booklet for this sketchcrawl then turn the booklet over and do the same for the 14th Worldwide sketchcrawl. This meant I had 20, 3.5x 5.5" pages to fill...Quite the challenge but one I am happy to say I achieved!

The booklet performed well with the various media I used throughout the day: Derwent watercolour pencils, Derwent drawing pencils, Lyra portrait coloured pencils, W&N watercolour, Verithin coloured pencils, sepia pitt pen and staedtler pigment liner....although I must stress minimal amounts of water were used, modestly applied with a brush pen.

Here are the results, my day from beginning to end, in sketch:

Click on the pictures to enlarge.

Some of the worldwide results can be viewed HERE

DODDINGTON VILLAGE, Cambridgeshire UK

On Friday morning my moleskin sketchbooks finally arrived and the sun burst through the clouds as if to greet them. After lunch, and the usual Friday house chores, I grabbed my sketch bag and travel chair, threw them into the back of my truck and headed into Doddington village.

The sun was deceiving, I absolutely froze and had to cut my trip short and return to the truck so I could feel my feet again!

Church of St. Mary- 2007 -

Sketchbook moleskin, coloured pencil & staedtler pigment liner.

Doddington clock tower -2007 -

Sketchbook moleskin, coloured pencil & staedtler pigment liner.

I visited the church of St. Mary briefly with my sketchbook last year too.

St Mary graveyard - 2006 - W&N heavyweight sketchbook, Sepia Pitt superfine.

Infield Memorial - 2006 - W&N heavyweight sketchbook, Black Pitt superfine.