SketchingManchester

76-2430 – Terminal 1

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Here is my last sketch from our trip to the UK, naturally done at the airport. Although our flight boarded late, there were very few places to sit in Terminal 1 of Manchester airport. We walked through the nicer part of the airport (lots of coffee bars, places to eat and seating), and then through some pokey corridors, to get to Terminal 1. Then we stood around for ages (waiting for them to open the gate) and then were finally herded into some seated areas. Despite the long wait overall we only sat down for 15 minutes before boarding, so I just did the ink-work for this sketch on the spot. I added the colour (using watercolour pencils for a change) at home.

Sun-23-Jul-2023

76-2429 – 19 Cafe Bar, Manchester

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This is almost my last sketch from our trip to the UK (naturally the last one was done at the airport), done when we had a birthday brunch for our daughter. She chose this place, which was a fair walk away and for which we had to queue up (in the drizzle), but it was well worth it, as they served great food at reasonable prices…and decent sized portions too! These two people were sitting near us.

Sun-23-Jul-2023

76-2425 – Science and industry museum cafe

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Here is another sketch from our time in Manchester, done when we visited the Science and Industry Museum. The museum seemed to be mostly about the cotton industry, but it was interesting. There was also a separate section on Stephen Hawking which we enjoyed. Unfortunately while we were at the museum there was a huge party of school kids visiting, who were incredibly noisy.

Wed-19-Jul-2023

76-2424 – Royal Exchange Theatre

Image | | Art-Chap-Enjoin

Here is another sketch from Manchester. The friend we visited in Leamington Spa recommended a visit to the Royal Exchange Theatre and as soon as she mentioned it, I remembered that this was an notable piece of architecture that I had heard about when I was a student. The theatre, built from tubular steel, was designed by Richard Negri, and was completed in 1976. It sits as a separate structure within the Great Hall of the Exchange building, which was opened in 1874 and being 206x96ft big was referred to as “the biggest room in the world”. I struggled a bit with this sketch (you can see a few errors if you look closely) and sadly we never got to see a play in the theatre for various reasons…perhaps next time.

Mon-17-Jul-2023

75-2418 – Arndale

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Here is the second sketch I did while my wife was having a meeting in town last Friday. It was raining (of course) so I found a place to shelter along the side of the road outside the Arndale shopping centre. I was told today that this post box was one of the only things to remain standing after the IRA bomb that destroyed part of central Manchester in 1996.

Fri-14-Jul-2023

75-2416 – Two trees one couple – Whitworth Cafe

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Here is a sketch I did last Thursday when we went for a walk to Whitworth Park. Next to it is the Whitworth Art Gallery which we have visited before, but which has a nice cafe with a view of the park. The stainless steel sculpture outside the window is by Anya Gallaccio and reinstates a tree which had died and had to be felled when an extension was being built – as a “ghostly negative form”.

Thu-13-Jul-2023

75-2417 – Queen Victoria Onslow Ford, 1901

Image | | Art-Chap-Enjoin

On Friday while my wife had a meeting in town, I had a chance to do some sketching. Unfortunately it was a rainy day (as seems common in Manchester), so I did this one standing under a tree to keep dry and finished the colour in Starbucks. This statue by Onslow Ford was apparently criticised when it was first unveiled, as it was said that it depicted the queen as looking sombre and weary-looking.

Fri-14-Jul-2023