Aerial View of Northampton

This abstract image was to draw attention to the new life possible in a less active part of the existing town of Northampton as a result of a new pedestrian link proposed to better connect the station to the city centre.

The image was intended to evoke the night lights on the streets from above the town. The street pattern was clearly expressed to allow some chance at orientaton when labelled.

The drawing was made in pencil and light watercolour washes on white paper, and then digitally inverted in photoshop.

NH  www.nickhirst.co.uk

Construction Site by Terence Cuneo

Terence Cuneo was a famous illustrator whose work I'm always delighted to come across. Trained at the Slade, he was renowned for his railway subjects, and was appointed official painter to the Queen in 1953.

There are many examples of his work to be found in various compilations of railway posters of the SE of England. This image particularly appeals - the unorthadox angle gives a lot more interest to a complex subject and a great sense of intrusion.

Have a look at www.terencecuneo.co.uk for more examples of his work.

NH www.nickhirst.co.uk

Door Latch at Goddards, Surrey by Lutyens

A study of a very simple door latch by Lutyens at Goddards, his house hidden in the North Downs at Abinger Hammer, Surrey.

Hosted by The Lutyens Trust, I was given the chance to spend a few days studying and drawing the house whilst staying. This door had an elegant simplicity. The challenge was to find a way in one drawing of illustrating a section, and the two opposite door elevations. I find this quite a pleasing composition.

Pencil on cartridge paper, sketchbook.

NH www.nickhirst.co.uk

Lime Kilns, Staffordshire

Sketches of old and new lime kilns in Staffordshire. The top image shows the remains of the original brickwork lime kilns, whilst the lower image shows a contemporary lime kiln that has been constructed on the same site, pleasingly to assist in the repair and conservation work of the original brickwork structures.

Taken from the SPAB Sketchbooks. Find out more about the SPAB and its work conserving historic buildings at www.spab.org.uk

NH  www.nickhirst.co.uk

Side Aisle, Canterbury Cathedral, UK

Drawn in watercolour, this sketch was made in situ, and then left to dry in the sun outside.

Whilst this approach takes a bit of confidence in getting the lines right first time, there is a nice effect when there is no layer of pencil drawing beneath.

Painted on Cream DR Mounting Board.

NH  www.nickhirst.co.uk

Albury Church, nr Guildford

A drawing of the approach to Albury Church nr Guildford, UK

Taken from a sketchbook from the SPAB Lethaby Scholarship in 2000. Having spent some time recording the building, we then had some time working on the interior with the conservation team.

Pencil on Cream Cartridge Paper.

NH  www.nickhirst.co.uk

Courtyard in the Castle, Tripoli

This drawing was made whilst as a guest of the head of the Libyan Department of Antiquities, Dr Salah in 2011, whilst working in Libya. The castle looks down over Green Square in Tripoli.

A wonderful series of spaces exist within the castle, courtyards, open corridors, gardens and cloisters.

The usual excuses for the unfinished nature of the drawing - limited time, inqusitive reisdents etc.

Drawn on Ivory Daler Rowney Mounting Board.

NH www.nickhirst.co.uk

Abu Dhabi from the shore

This is a recently completed sketch of Abu Dhabi, UAE of the developing cityscape from the sea, with one of the frequent, spectacular storms approaching.

In this case monochrome watercolour using ‘neutral tint’ made for the fastest way of creating the picture before I the weather arrived. The humidity slowed the drying of the water and compensated for temperature making it possible to work outside.

Drawn on Daler Rowney Mounting Board.

NH www.nickhirst.co.uk

Narrow Venetian Street - Calle de Cocco

Further to the most recent post, I was lucky enough to stay for a couple of days in an apartment in the Calle de Cocco in Venice. One of the most fascinatingly narrow streets I have ever stood in, and one of the tallest, narrowest drawings that I have attempted.

The character of the street is dictated by the projections around the windows above, and the sound of the canal at the far end could be heard clearly.

The drawing is taken from a sketchbook (hence the gutter), and is made on 140lb HP Watercolour paper.

NH  www.nickhirst.co.uk

Chancel of a church interior, Venice, Italy

This drawing was made in an empty church very early one morning in Venice.

One theme that I suspect I will keep repeating in these posts is the fascination that I have - that years after having produced a quick sketch, it is easy to recall the sounds, temperature, smell etc of the location where the drawing was made.

There is something about the intensity of concentration required to make the drawing that allows a subconscious recording of the environment by all of the other senses. I find that this is not the case for me with any photographs, no matter how hard I concentrate.

The drawing is made on 140lb HP watercolour paper, within an A5 sketchbook


NH
www.nickhirst.co.uk

Introduction

The purpose of this blog is to share my interest in architectural illustration, and sketching.

I am an architecturally-trained London-based illustrator. I am intending to use this blog to post both examples of my sketches and drawings, generally those less finished (and therefore often more interesting) and to draw attention to some of my favourite artists and painters, whose work I have come across in the last 15 years.

Please let me have your comments, and I hope you discover something new,

Regards,

Nick Hirst
www.nickhirst.co.uk