Chris Fothergill’s BLOG
Recent commissions, urban sketching and creative projects
Holiday sketchbook from Norfolk Broads
A week by the sea in Norfolk in and around Winterton-on-Sea and the Broads. One of my favourite happy places for a holiday. So as soon as we sit down on a walk or on the beach I feel like drawing in the sketchbook. These are all views I’ve probably sketched... read more
Greenwich Old Naval College sketching
A day out with my family in London visiting the Greenwich Maritime Museum and the Cutty Sark. I had to do the sketch above, it’s such a lovely architectural subject. Trying to simplify this into its component parts was the challenge, so as not to take more than... read more
Urban Sketching St Patrick’s Day Parade in Birmingham
Out with the Birmingham Urban Sketchers Group on 17th March 2019 for attempts to capture something of the St Patrick’s Day Parade in Digbeth. Not easy when the wind is furious, and suddenly sleet and hail come out of nowhere! Add to that moving targets to try... read more
Sketching in Malvern Town Centre
A bright but very windy Saturday drew me out with my sketchbook, not with a group this time but on my own for a bit of sketching. However familiar places are to us in our own home town, they transform in our minds when we start to sketch them and we see them afresh. I... read more
Urban Sketching Spring Hill Birmingham
The first days of Spring, and appropriately enough I find myself out again with the hardy Urban sketchers of Birmingham meeting at Spring Hill Library. I managed to get the first sketch in before we officially met at 11.00am. ... read more
Out with the Birmingham Urban Sketchers Chinese New Year 2019
This was drawn whilst out with the Birmingham Urban Sketchers group, at the Chinese New Year celebrations in February 2019. It was cold and people were still setting up as it was early. If you look hard you can just see another sketchers... read more
Great Malvern Priory
This is one of my favourite views of the town of Great Malvern, looking across the rooftops of Malvern Priory and the Priory Gatehouse. The warmth of the stone and the variety of architectural styles combine to an elegant whole that is typical of the town. I worked... read more
Sketching trip to Cadiz and Jerez de la Frontera, Spain
CADIZ AND JEREZ Sketching trip 8th -15th May 2016 A travelogue as written up in my sketchbooks alongside my sketches during the trip. CADIZ Monday 9th May 16 My arrival in Cadiz has been characterised by sudden and violent thunderstorms, a deluge of biblical... read more
A watercolour painting of Campo SS Giovanni e Paulo, Venice
This is a view I have painted before, but never taking in such a wide panorama. It was done during a quiet break from my commercial work, in March 2018. I was longing to do something for myself and revisit Venice so I did so in my mind for a few days and produced this... read more
Pen and watercolour sketch of Hereford Cathedral
A day out to Hereford with Gill, and as usual I am parked for an hour with my sketchbook while Gill goes off to the shops. It’s a happy arrangement and I thoroughly enjoyed sitting in this quiet corner enjoying the Autumn sunshine. I coloured it as well on the... read more
Watercolour painting of the Worcestershire Beacon in Winter
The Malvern Hills provide endless possibilites for the landscape artist. I have focused upon architectural painting for so long that I feel rusty when I take my paints to the landscape. Having done some watercolour sketches on the hills last year I wanted to do a... read more
Pen and watercolour sketch of Malvern Priory
This is one of my favourite views of Great Malvern town. Looking across the amazing jumble of rooftops that make up the precincts of Malvern Priory. We only moved to Malvern in the last year (2017) so I was keen to make a start on sketching, just as soon as I had... read more
Pen and wash sketch in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain
This is a sketch I did from a photograph, specifically for a demonstration evening at the Solihull Society of Arts. It was entitled ‘Holiday Sketching’ and I chose the view as I wanted to show how to simplify what looks like a complicated scene, and... read more
Time lapse Painting demo of the Alcazar Castle in Segovia
This was painted in the studio from sketchbooks and photos taken on a visit to Spain in 2008. Segovia is a wonderful city the other side of a mountain range just north of Madrid. The Alcazar Castle stands like a ship on an outcrop of rock at the western edge of the... read more
Painting demo of The Fishmarket, Venice
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Chedworth Roman Villa – Wall Mural
The creation of a Roman Mural at the new Salway room at Chedworth Roman Villa. read more
Watercolour Painting Workshop Day – Chedworth Roman Villa
A snippet of my watercolour painting workshop day at Chedworth Roman Villa. read more
Facades – An Exhibition of Watercolour Paintings
An overview of my exhibition ‘Façades’ at Chipping Norton Theatre. read more
Artist in Residence at Chipping Norton Theatre
Talking through my latest exhibition at Chipping Norton Theatre, at the end of my artistic residency. read more