WISBECH, Cambridgeshire. UK

Another sketch created inside the truck, this time while I waited for a better parking position.

WISBECH, Cambridgeshire. UK

I went to Wisbech Rose Fair today fully intending to represent the Fenland Visual Arts Collective. I arrived early and sat on a bench in Museum square sketching for a few moments while waiting for a friend.

Sadly, the windy weather did not ease and soon we were joined by rain causing us to head home. I was hoping to get some serious sketching this year, they have a band that plays opposite our allocated space and I had really been looking forward to capturing both them and the crowd they generate in my sketchbook but it was not to be.

Remarkable weather for July!

BYGONES CAFE, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire. UK

What a day!

I had to go into Wisbech today so I thought I'd make a day of it and take my sketchbooks along, it has some fantastic architecture. No sooner I had stepped out of the truck it tipped down with rain and I mean literally tipped down! I spent my whole day skipping from one shelter to another in hope it would soon stop but it didn't.

Soaked, I ventured into a favourite little cafe of mine in Wisbech called 'Bygones' and this is where my day began to brighten up, not because of the very few sketches I finally managed to make but because of the company.

I met Elva, a wonderfully warm, mature woman who asked if I minded her taking a seat beside me. We talked and talked as if we had been friends for ever and her appreciation of life was a welcome inspiration on such a day. Elva noticed I was sketching and, after taking a look through my moleskin, she confessed she 'made things'. Intrigued, I listened while she explained she made houses and buildings from her empty cigarette packets then she took me towards the back of the cafe to show me the replica of 'Bygones' she had crafted. It was fantastic!

Elva was sunshine on a gloomy day.

One of the things I have enjoyed most about my location sketching is the fact that it allows me time to just stop, sit, think, SEE, appreciate and share special moments with such interesting people I may never have found the time to meet otherwise.

PECKOVER HOUSE, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire. UK

I spent a sunny Tuesday afternoon at Peckover House, a National Trust property situated on North Brink in Wisbech. On this visit, I decided to make the most of the good weather and sketch around the wonderful gardens.

All of my sketches were created in my A4 Venezia sketchbook with an 'Artline' pen and some are coloured using a St. Petersburg set of watercolour pans.

PECKOVER HOUSE, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire. UK

Peckover House is perfectly positioned in the centre of North Brink and is the finest property in Wisbech.

It was built in 1722 and bought by Jonathan Peckover at the end of the 18th century. The Peckover’s, a Quaker banking family, presented the building to the National Trust in 1948. The outside of the house gives little idea of the elaborate and elegant interior of fine panelled rooms, Georgian fireplaces with carved over-mantels and ornate plaster decorations.

At the back of the house is a beautiful walled garden with interesting and rare trees, delightful summer houses and fruiting orange trees, thought to be 300 years old. Unfortunately, the cold weather made sketching in the garden most impractical during this visit.

The Library is an oval shaped room boasting an area of 52x21 feet and curved walls at each end.


Joan and I sketched our way through the house using the little time we had at Peckover wisely. Using my 9x12" Venezia sketchbook, I decided to build a collection of patterns and textures that caught my eye, much like a small library to remind me of all the beautiful things I just didn't have the time to create large sketches of but that unmistakably shouted "Peckover House" to me.

Peckover is probably the closest National Trust house to me and I frequently shop in the Wisbech area which made the idea of becoming a National Trust member all the more appealing. As a member I can access all NT premises, parks and gardens free of charge and the thought of being able to 'pop' into Peckover next time I am in Town, to view it through the upcoming seasons and all at no cost was enough to tempt me to join!

I'm sure you will see much more of Peckover in my sketchbooks throughout the year!

The CHEQUERS INN, Wisbech St. Mary

"Approximately a mile beyond Bunkers Hill you enter Tholomas Drove where a Free School once stood. It was built by a Quaker farmer, Francis Hardy around 1700. On the right as you pass through the hamlet you will see another ancient hostelry, the Chequers Inn. Because Tholomas Drove is geographically situated in the centre of the parish, the school and the Inn were host to many activities associated with 19th Century life in the villages. When the Parish Council was formed it originally used the old schoolroom for its meetings before transferring to the Inn. The Parish Council still meets in the Chequers Inn Clubroom."

~

On the morning of 21-3-07 I met with my friend Joan for our usual Wednesday sketch day together. The icy weather was no deterrent for us as we headed towards Wisbech St Mary in Cambridgeshire. Our destination for the day was Peckover House in Wisbech, however, knowing that the house did not open it's doors until midday, we took advantage of the slip road opposite The Chequers Inn in Tholomas Drove and sketched in the comfort of Joan's car on our way.

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As the clock approached midday we headed towards Peckover House...

PARSON DROVE, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire. UK

Today I met with my good friend Joan and we set off to Parson Land, Wisbech to sketch 'The Cage'.
The Cage was built in 1829 by John Peck as an overnight lock up for local criminals and animals as well as housing a fire pump for 95 years. It has now been restored by the Parish Council and is operating as a visitors centre.

Lge moleskin, watercolour & sepia pitt pen

Oddly, the jailhouse had a clock tower added to it to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1897, just like the clock tower in my previous post about Doddington Village.

Joan and I suffered the cold and battled through our sketches, turning a few degrees to our left to capture the quaint little cottage attached to the Swan Inn, which I have nicknamed 'Swan Cottage'.

Joan and I sketching in Parson Drove with Swan Cottage just behind me.

The Cage - Parson Drove, Wisbech

At around 1pm we could brave the cold no longer and drove just up the road to 'The Butchers Arms' public house to grab a hot coffee and something to eat. You can imagine how pleased we were to find a real log fire burning on our arrival. Our good friend Diane joined us and while we chatted I managed a quick sketch of the fireplace.

Lge Moleskin, coloured pencil & pigment liner

We returned to the little cottage next to the Swan Inn briefly so Joan could finish her sketch but decided to sit in the comfort of the truck this time!