Sheffield Skyline

Sheffield Skyline looking up Fitzwilliam Street towards the University Arts Tower - that's where I spent the last 2 (of 5) years of my university career - a long way up (20 storeys) and a very very long time ago now!

Ez's diary/book - concrete chickens

Calver Sough Nurseries - the koi carp pool is surround by various products. These were concrete (I think) chickens. Ezra loves to watch the fish sticking their heads above the water expecting to be fed. Some have human like features to their faces, some are golden, some have red and white patches and they all look pretty and tasty!

The Bridge Inn, Curbar..... Ezra's diary/book

The Bridge Inn, Curbar - just over the frontier with Calver (the River Derwent). This is where Ezra starts yawning and we often turn back to Palmers Café. There's also a very interesting pavement gully (shown in the foreground) with chevron shaped gratings which Ezra loves to use as a trampoline. 

Ezra's diary - sketching re-starts

Our Ezra's fascinated by tractors (or "actors" as he says). This one which I think is rented out by Froggatt Edge Garage did a U-ey outside the garage on the very busy A625. Nice manoeuvre!

My Ringinglow Village - Flyer

"My Ringinglow Village" is now on the flyer for Heeley Art Club in October. Pay us a visit - it's free!

"My Ringinglow Village"

"My Ringinglow Village" - another one for the Winter Garden in October. This and the previous image posted have been selected. This painting is a compilation of buildings, landscape, sheep and snow that frequent our village at over 1000ft above sea level. We do have llamas and alpacas but they would look really odd in a painting!

Limb Brook Ringinglow, Sheffield

Limb Brook Ringinglow, Sheffield. It's about 100 metres from our home. The local waterfall in the distant is over a metre high! I've painted this for submission for selection for Heeley Art Club Autumn Exhibition at the Winter Garden in Sheffield from 3rd - 12th August this year (soon).

Oxford - Bridge of Sighs

My first ever visit to Oxford. The city is not only jam packed with bicycles and dreaming finials/pinnacles but it has a Bridge of Sighs. That's me sitting on the steps of a side door to the Sheldonian Theatre sketching the view.

More from our Ezra's Diary

Just beyond the underpass and what should we see but a man from Derbyshire County Council up a tree cutting it down (from the top) with a chain saw. It was alongside the old bridge across the River Derwent. Free 20 minutes entertainment! 

Ez's diary again

Now the Art Show submission season is over I have time to devote to our grandson Ezra's diary again. To cross the busy A623 at Calver between Chesterfield and Manchester we use the underpass (above). It's concrete wall to wall and floor to ceiling like an echo chamber so I can demonstrate my yodelling expertise to Ezra. I think he's impressed. He's in the No 2 pram with Grannie in control. That's Hulleys of Baslow bus crossing the underpass so it must be 10.45 - 15 minutes to coffee time!

Houses of Parliament on Father's Day

Re-union with the Uni of Sheffield Dept of Architecture Class of '67 in London last weekend visiting the Shard and Cutty Sark. Free on Sunday morning so did a 10 minute sketchette of the Houses of Parliament from under the London Eye. All equipment supplied by daughter Sian for Father's Day - watercolour paper postcard, squezzy watercolour brush, and emergency palette (seen in top RH corner) which consisted of 12 watercolour pencil dabs on paper... add the postage stamp, find a post box and the job's a good 'un!
Sian took my paintings to Art in the Gardens Submission Day and all 5 were accepted.

Sheffield Canal Basin 003a

My third version of the Canal Basin - Sheffield's Victoria Quays - this time looking south. It's almost there, hopefully finished today. Might take up narrow boat decoration in the future!

Sheffield Canal Basin 003

Another work in progress. Canal Basin Sheffield looking towards the Nabarro Building. This will be mixed media from my "IYF" (in your face) colourist style and my third Canal Basin painting. The narrow boats are ripe for a bit of colourist's creations! I did a lot of detailed production drawings on the Nabarro building in my previous life as an architect working for Hadfield Cawkwell Davidson in the mid '90's at the end of the last recession. Thanks HCD.

Supertram at Commercial Street, Sheffield

Started work on producing my artwork for submission for Art in the Gardens. Need to do at least 4 paintings by 13th June. This one will be in pen and watercolour.

Muse Cottage and Apple Tree Cottage on Main Street in Calver

More from our Ezra's diary. Muse Cottage and Apple Tree Cottage on Main Street in Calver. There are some trout lazing about in a crystal clear brook just the other side of that low stone wall at the front of the drawing - I think they're family pets The water gushes out from the spring less than 100 metres up the road and looks good enough to drink (depending on what the fish are doing in it of course).

All Saints Church Curbar

This Church is just over the frontier between Calver and Curbar (ie. the River Derwent) 

 

Derwentwater Arms Calver

More from our 13 month old grandson's illustrated diary. Ezra's local - we've already taken him out with us twice to this pub for an evening meal. Wonder if we'll still be around when he's 18 - very much doubt it! On our morning stroll with him we pass this view on the way back from our coffee at Palmer's Café.

Returning to Calver Village in colour

Watercolour added

Returning to Calver Village

Returning to Calver Village from the Curbar side off Kingsgate (the A623) onto Main Street...... the pen sketch. Ezra's asleep by this stage and we're on the way to Palmer's Café for our mid morning cappuccino and sausage roll/toasted teacake. That's G A Shepherd the bespoke tailor's shop straight ahead.

Doug's dog Spike

More from our travels around Calver with our grandson Ezra. We usually stop (when the weather's okay) to say hello to the old gentleman Spike. He's Doug's dog. Doug used to be landlord of the local Derwentwater Arms and they live on the corner of High Street and Lowside. Ezra likes Spike and likes pointing at him!