On this day we drove to Gatwick airport very early – I barely got any sleep. I sketched this at 4:30 am while we waited for our flight to Montenegro. I never get used to the ideas that some Brits drink alcohol at airports even in the early mornings.
Mon-10-Aug-2026
After my last sketch I had a gap of two days in sketching. When we drove down from Manchester via Oxford to Hove again, we had a road accident – a big lorry drove in to us on the motorway. Thankfully we were not hurt (and neither was the lorry driver), but the hire car was damaged, which so far has cost us a lot of money. We also spent some time meeting friends and helping put stuff into storage. When I had time I sketched these Crocks which belong to our eldest daughter…very cool…or very embarrassing, depending on your perspective!
Sun-9-Aug-2026
This is the last sketch I did in Manchester done outside The New Oxford pub, of the building where our daughter lived for two years. Although it’s been converted into apartments, they managed to keep some of the beautiful Victorian glazed tile decorations in the hallways and staircases.
Thu-6-Aug-2026
I sketched this at the Whitworth (Art Gallery) cafe after going to see an exhibition called “Beneath the Great Wave: Hokusai and Hiroshige”, highlighting the famous woodblock landscape works of Edo-period Japanese masters Katsushika Hokusai Utagawa Hiroshige. In my sketch I only managed to capture part of two people and a tree before they moved, but often I find that half-finished sketches turn out better!
Thu-6-Aug-2026
While our daughter was working we went to look at the nearby Cathedral – which is newly refurbished. It threatened to rain repeatedly as we sat and sketched…windy and cold then suddenly sunny and hot.
Wed-5-Aug-2026
On this day we went into town for a last visit to Fred Aldous (a huge Manchester art materials store) and I indulged again by buying paper and some Caran D’Ache water soluble neocolour II Aquarelle crayons and some Faber-Castell watercolour pencils (which I used in this sketch). Afterwards we had coffee (to get out of a sudden shower of rain) at this place nearby and then went back to helping our daughter with more packing.
Wed-5-Aug-2026
After our visit in Calne we did a lot of driving and visiting friends (in Bath, Gloucestershire, Birmingham and finally getting to Salford)…so there is a bit of a break in my sketches during this time. After a day of helping our daughter pack up her flat I sketched this in the evening before dinner at her place, when we cooked up lentils, beans and couscous.
Tue-4-Aug-2026
On this day we drove to the West Country and Calne in lovely weather. After chatting and eating in the garden of old friends we then went to a different kind of cultural event at Bowood House. This was an open-air theatre production of the Great Gatsby performed by the touring company “This is My Theatre”. It was brilliantly done and surprisingly funny given the subject matter. Four actors swapped and played multiple roles while we ate a picnic – very posh of us!
Sat-1-Aug-2026
On this day we went to Preston Park in Brighton to watch Nick Cave. This quick sketch was done while the supporting act (English Teacher) were playing. After this we moved into the crowd, watching the Flaming Lips (who were not so great live) and then the man himself. The crowds were huge and very packed – some people fainted (maybe from sitting in the sun from 1pm onwards and drinking). My wife had to move to the edge of the crowd to get some air (and see more). By the end of the concert my feet were aching and my throat was sore (from a cold coming on and cheering of course). But it was brilliant – what a performer.
Fri-31-Jul-2026