Ely, Cambridgeshire UK

13-04-13b, a photo by Anita Davies on Flickr.

My second spread from the 39th Worldwide Sketchcrawl.
After leaving the Samovar Tea House and saying goodbye to Emma-Jane, I drove home...stopping along the way to capture a couple of quick ink sketches to finish my page

Samovar Tea House, Ely, Cambridgeshire UK

13-04-13a, a photo by Anita Davies on Flickr.

I spent a couple of hours at Samovar with Emma-Jane for the 39th Worldwide Sketchcrawl. My first visit here, such a relaxing, welcoming atmosphere...I will be back! The latte was good too!
I hadn't seen E-J in 4 years!!!...How did that happen??? We have vowed never to let it happen again.
I wanted to try my Seawhite concertina with ink and Tombow marker to see if it bled through before taking them to Rome in May, I am happy to report that the sketchbook stood up to the marker very well.

Peacocks Tearooms, Ely, Cambridgeshire UK

21-01-12b, a photo by Anita Davies on Flickr.

Popped into Ely for the 34th WorldWide SketchCrawl and visited my favourite tearoom for a caffeine and scone fix!

Kings School, Ely, Cambridgeshire UK

21-01-12a, a photo by Anita Davies on Flickr.

I popped out to Ely for the 34th WorldWide SketchCrawl. I wasn't feeling great but wanted to try out my new DaVinci Maestro Voyage brush.

Worldwide Sketchcrawl 33

wwsc33-7, a photo by Anita Davies on Flickr.

I drove into Downham Market, Norfolk for the 33rd worldwide sketchcrawl.
I sketched this while waiting for Tom to bring the spare set of keys up to me so I could drive home! It looked so much fun I couldn't resist buying it for Harry from 'Bluebells' and found it hard to resist while sketching too!
That's my last sketch of the WW sketchcrawl 33 and the last page of my Maruman sketchbook, so pleased to get that finished up at last.

In my next post I'll be taking you back to Portugal and my 10 days in the sun!

Worldwide Sketchcrawl 33

wwsc33-6, a photo by Anita Davies on Flickr.

I drove into Downham Market, Norfolk for the 33rd worldwide sketchcrawl.
I sketched this while waiting for Tom to bring the spare set of keys up to me so I could drive home!

Worldwide Sketchcrawl 33

wwsc33-5, a photo by Anita Davies on Flickr.

I drove into Downham Market, Norfolk for the 33rd worldwide sketchcrawl.
I sketched this from the town square, then went back to the car to put my cupcake purchase away and dropped my car keys down a drain...a deep drain full of black liquid! Gutted!

Worldwide Sketchcrawl 33

wwsc33-4, a photo by Anita Davies on Flickr.

Today I drove into Downham Market, Norfolk for the 33rd worldwide sketchcrawl.
I visited 'Bluebells Florist/Tearooms for the first time and also indulged in a cream tea that came served in a triad of glass!

Worldwide Sketchcrawl 33

wwsc33-3, a photo by Anita Davies on Flickr.

Today I drove into Downham Market, Norfolk for the 33rd worldwide sketchcrawl.
I visited 'Bluebells Florist/Tearooms for the first time and indulged in a 'Jamacian Blue' blend which was soooo delicious!

Worldwide Sketchcrawl 33

wwsc33-2, a photo by Anita Davies on Flickr.

Today I drove into Downham Market, Norfolk for the 33rd worldwide sketchcrawl.
I dropped in to have a cuppa at the Methodist church coffee morning on arrival.

Worldwide Sketchcrawl 33

wwsc33-1, a photo by Anita Davies on Flickr.

Today I drove into Downham Market, Norfolk for the 33rd worldwide sketchcrawl.
I dropped in to have a cuppa at the Methodist church coffee morning on arrival.

16-10-10 - WW SketchCrawl 29

16-10-10 - WW SketchCrawl 29
Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

While Joan and I had been at the Cathedral, Clive (Joans hubby) had been cooking his speciality meatballls for us on our return. We had an Italian Rose with them and fresh strawberries and cream for dessert...A delicious way to complete our day!

16-10-10 - WW SketchCrawl 29

16-10-10 - WW SketchCrawl 29
Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

Joan and I ended up in the Jesus Chapel for our final sketch in Norwich Cathedral before catching the bus back home.

16-10-10 - WW Sketchcrawl 29

16-10-10 - WW Sketchcrawl 29
Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

Had a good look around the beautiful cathedral for a while, having never visited before, it is full of delights. Popped outside for a ciggie break and ended up sketching the cloisters. Far too cold to do more than one so I chose the ones that showed the roof of the newly attached cafe in the background.

16-10-10 - WW SketchCrawl 29

16-10-10 - WW SketchCrawl 29
Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

After a nice cuppa in the Cathedral Cafe Joan and I headed outside and found a bench. The icy cold breeze was softened a little by the sun showing it's face but, after sitting to sketch a scene opposite the Cathedral, it didn't take long for the cold to get into our bones. Such a shame, there was lots here I would love to have sketched such as the Cathedral itself and two wonderful statues on the green...Soooo cold though!

16-10-10 - WW SketchCrawl 29

16-10-10 - WW SketchCrawl 29
Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

Joan and I took the Park 'n' Ride into Norwich Cathedral and headed straight for their cafe for a nice long latte and a slice of cake.

26th Worlwide Sketchcrawl

Doddington Churchyard, Cambs

I managed to get out for a couple of hours on Saturday and do a local, solo, sketch session for the 26th Worldwide sketchcrawl.
Still no scanner (thank God for my camera)
All of my sketches are in a folding Maruman sketchbook in which I have sketched all my recent WW sketchcrawls.


View from the Oliver Cromwell Hotel window, March, Cambs



Middlefield View driveway, Chatteris to Sutton road, Cambs

Worldwide Sketchcrawl 21

Saturday was the 21st Worldwide sketchcrawl and with weather here at minus 3 the whole day, I finally decided to take refuge in The Olde Griffin Hotel for a couple of hours.
The Griffin has recently been refurbished and I had never really been inside until Saturday...What a fabulous place! It is huge and has many levels and areas. A variety of chairs, stools, leather sofas and flat screen TV's make it very user friendly for all age groups...the ideal place for an artist to get 'lost' in and sketch. It sits on the corner of the market square and has many windows with views along the High Street too.
The Griffin also serves a great latte, which is always a bonus!
I enjoyed the venue so much that I'm hoping to make it a place I visit often.

SketchCrawl 20 - Ely

Despite the cold weather, I had a fabulous day with Emma-Jane yesterday.

We met around 10.30 and grabbed a cuppa from CostaCoffee which we drank while strolling towards the river and chatting. We had so much to talk about that we almost forgot the purpose of the day and our first sketch was brief due to our hands freezing to the bone.

We took comfort in The Lamb Hotel where we stayed long enough to warm up and indulge in a bit of lunch which E-J treated me to. (Thanks E-J) We decided the chairs were so comfortable that we'd stay for another cuppa and a little sketching.

We had a quick browse around Tindalls at the art materials, trying to persuade ourselves that we NEEDED something. Both of us managed to convince ourselves of at least one sale.

Back to Costa coffee (yes the whole day DID revolve around coffee, of which I am most grateful!) and we took our forthy beverages outside to make a quick sketch of the Cathedral before parting.

The day seemed to go so quickly, good company can do that!

After I left E-J I slipped into WH Smith and purchased the lettering stencil I used on the six pages I created in my Maruman sketchbook above.

I managed one last sketch back at the truck before pulling off to start my journey home.

I always kick myself that I could have done more but the truth is that, if I had, I would have missed out on some great laughs and memorable conversations with a dear friend, so I am most content with my day.

Catching Up

Saturday was the 17th Worldwide Sketch Crawl and, although Joan and I did not venture out, we did take part by sketching around her beautiful home in Coltishall.



Even Joan's Husband Clive wasn't safe from the artistic mayhem.



The collection of figurines beside the fireplace was so pretty, I chose my favourite to zoom in on; a wooden sculpture called 'Together'.

Joan rested her eyes for 15 minutes while I sketched her and then later I filled the page by adding her hand as she sketched.

The page above shows the colours I do not have in my 12 set of Inktense pencils, I think I may have to order that 'Shiraz'...Yum! The portrait, also sketched in inktense but not wetted, is the only sketch of the day copied from a photographic reference rather than life. His name is Max and I have painted him for Joan before, in watercolour, from a photo taken when he was just a few minutes old.

It's hard to believe it's been 18 months...Time sure does fly!