A place to rest… My first Tube drawing of 2020 was started on my return to work from my long Christmas/New Year break. I was struck by the sight of a man meditating, in the midst of the rush-hour crowds he seemed so calm. Around me, were people watching their […]
commuting
123 posts
The carnival continues underground. This one took a long time to draw, I just had other things to do and there was never enough commute time! But I had fond memories of this journey. I hadn’t realised the carnival was on, as I was out of London and visiting friends […]
Even in summer, a breeze may not be a relief on the Tube... This one is of a Tube journey when there was a bit of a breeze through the carriage as the train moved. Sadly, despite its strength, the wind is never particularly cooling when the Tube is already […]
Just another morning commute… It was a busy morning and there was plenty of activity in my carriage. The person next to me was playing Candy Crush game on their mobile, I’m guessing to everyone else I must have been doing the same on my phone – but no, I […]
There was a lot of fabric. I had to draw this in reverse, as the woman on the right of this was sat next to me. She had surprised me by pulling out of a bag a huge length of fabric, possibly old curtains, and I think she was picking […]
They weren’t always arguing, sometimes they didn’t talk… I only use the Central line occasionally, that time the Tube got me to a friend’s house and not to work! This drawing is mainly two journeys combined into one, both from the same line that evening, with the second trip covering my […]
I’ve seen bigger plants being carried on the Underground… The woman carrying the pot of peace lilies caught my eye whilst I was returning home in the evening on the Victoria line. It’s always quite a risk carrying delicate plants on the crowded underground, but I’ve seen people skillfully transport […]
I didn’t go to the festival, but I was hearing all about it… It was a long and entertaining journey from a house party near Elm Park back to Brixton. On the District line, I ended up on the same carriage as a lot of people coming from a music festival in […]
So many things one can do with a digital device. I wasn’t going to or from work on this Tube journey, for a change, I was heading to a paaaaarty! In this carriage, I spotted people using their smartphones or tablet for many things. Obviously, I was drawing; other people […]
The morning I got food envy… The dad in this picture was asking his young daughter: “Are you still hungry, had enough?”. As she was eating, he explained the meaning of the colours of the lines o the Tube map, especially “the green and yellow ones”. This scene is not very […]
Combining the gym with commuting. Multitasking, London style. I went in earlier than usual to work that day. When I boarded the Tube carriage, I spotted a middle-aged man doing several pull-ups before the train left the station. Over the course of seven weeks, made up of at least […]
It’s not just about having steady hands, it’s a skill! With a steady hand and good coordination, this woman managed to apply blusher on her cheeks as the train moved between Brixton and Oxford Circus stations. It was crowded during the morning rush hour, but I spotted her in a gap […]
We all get our internet orders delivered to work, right? I finished work late again, this explains why so much of my drawing is squeezed into my commute times! On this evening journey to Brixton, I spotted a woman with a large armful of parcels which I guessed were internet orders. Near her was […]
Sometimes, the Tube is crowded… I noticed that the people standing up in the aisle separating the rows of seats, often face the same way. On this rush-hour journey, I saw backsides and rucksacks when the standees closest to me were all facing away. Medium: Digital drawing created on an iPhone […]
A laughing baby was infectious, in a good way. Monday morning commutes are usually a busy and subdued experience. This rush hour was particularly memorable because there were a few people on the journey who were outside the normal ‘working age’ bracket. A small, very smiley toddler was making this commute to Oxford […]
I wonder what was on that phone? Just before Christmas, there can be a rush to get things done and see people. It’s one of those times when Londoners will go to the opposite side of their massive city – which can seem like long-distance travel – to see friends […]
Sometimes, Brixton is beautiful… The sun was very bright whilst I was waiting for a train and carefully carrying a large homemade cake, which made me feel extra vulnerable on the narrow platform. I was going from Brixton to Kent House to see some friends before they emigrated. The elevated […]
How desperate was this guy for a cigarette? This was a journey made going between site visits for work. I spotted a man rolling his own. Of course, he wasn’t going to smoke on the Tube – it’s illegal – but I can imagine he was eager to light […]
No problem with sleeping dogs here. Initially, the lovely sleeping spaniel caught my attention as I had to step over it to get to a vacant seat. Only as I drew it and its owner did I notice the couple right in front of me. Goodness, they really couldn’t keep […]
London couldn’t exist without them… London’s a busy place. I’m surrounded by many familiar people every day: friends, colleagues and housemate, even the same people handing out free newspapers and Time Outs or preaching on the streets. I often forget many people are just passing through the city until I […]