whilst cleaning my studio work station, it was once used as an anaesthetic trolley, I came across this old sketchbook which was used whilst I was a registered nurse. It shows theatre life a few years back at The North Devon District Hospital. I am now retired.
A series of pen and ink drawings made during the pandemic in 2020. These are nurses and ODPs (operating department practitioners) who worked with me at The North Devon District Hospital.
My annual trip to Fairport’s Cropredy Festival in Oxford for music, great food and beer. I have a wonderful time walking along the picturesque canals with their longboats and drinking in the two pubs, The Brasenose and The Red Lion. Both pubs have fringe music festivals and I enjoy having a few ales in the churchyard amongst the gravestones opposite The Red Lion. The picture above is of the old lock keeper’s cottage and this is where I often spend time peacefully in the sun.
During this busy visit I managed to get in some time to do some pen and ink sketches. The canal tow path with lock man’s cottage is a particular favourite of mine at Cropredy. The other sketches are of the main arena and stage at the festival with its lights and speaker systems. It was great to see the Harvest Moon in the sky during the evening performances and a special appearance by the famous Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin.
Today I’ve spent time sketching at Buck’s Mills on the North Devon Coast. Such a peaceful place to make five minute pen sketches sitting in the warmth of the sun. I love this time of year when the flowers are in full colour and there’s a sprinkling of Cow Parsley everywhere. The sketches will hopefully be used in a forthcoming painting. Al
I don’t usually paint or draw portraits of pets, let alone do commission work, but here is one of a friend’s Staffordshire Terrier in memorial. This has been completed using Pen and Ink, pencil and Uni-ball Pens. Below is an acrylic of another friend’s Jack Russell painted some years ago.
A pen & Ink drawing portrait of an NHS Colleague of mine, a privilege to have worked with him. Al 😎.
Back to a little Pen & ink just to change the tempo for awhile. Â Midday at Bucks Mills a picturesque village on the North Devon coast in England. Â This leads down to a stoney beach where in bygone time there used to be a small harbour and limekilns. Â With a little licence i’ve added a few cow parsley plants to liven things up. Â The cabin in the middle of the picture is owned by the National Trust and used to be an artist’s retreat. Â Still used today although not as a residence.
I dedicate this picture to the memory of an old art teacher of mine, ‘James Paterson A.R.C.A. 1916 – 1986. Â Know to us as Jimmy’ Â who painted some wonderful watercolours of this village and the surrounding area
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Billy Gibbons (Pen & Ink with some Bideford Black coal based pigment) 290mm x320mm. Just a brief travel back to my draughtsman & illustration days to produce this study of the Famous Mr Gibbons from ZZ Top. Managed to see them at this year’s Glastonbury Festival and still rocking! Al
Photograph courtesy of Kerry Langford Photography & thanks for allowing me to draw.
A couple of pen & ink drawings from a long time ago. Perhaps 35 to 40 years ago.
Al Brown Artist. 