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 […]
drawing
200 posts
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 […]
An architectural masterpiece. This drawing was inspired by a fascinating architectural tour of 55 Broadway, the Art Deco headquarters of London Underground. I’ve wanted to go in and see it ever since I first saw a dramatic drawing of it at the RIBA many years ago. One of the guides […]
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 […]
This is how I spend my time off… Unlike most of my friends and colleagues, I did not go straight back to work after New Years Day. I booked a week off and I explored London. I hadn’t been to the Whitechapel Gallery for many years and its new cafe […]
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 […]
We’ve all done it: sleep, eat, use our phones and, ummm … wear bird print (I definitely have). With teaching, work and travel, it’s been another busy time in my life, so squeezing in any drawing has been mostly a commute-only activity. The fragments of opportunity to draw have included: standing […]
Is it ok to be cutting nails on the Tube? On a busy morning commute, I was rather appalled when a woman sat next to me began to clip her fingernails. At first, I thought she might be trimming one quickly, but I think she ended up cutting them all – […]
Nothing stops London. Events in the news have been shocking, but – despite the headlines – life in London carries on. It has to. This drawing took two months and done almost entirely during my commutes, which was the only time I had to draw due to work and other […]
The Tube is a good place to work out your expenses. On my way to Victoria station during a reasonably quiet time, I saw how people will leave a seat between each other if they can – this isn’t possible during the rush hour! The lady on the left attracted […]
It’s winter, even on the Underground, can’t you tell? The product of six weeks’ worth of commuting time, this drawing records my first journey on the Tube to work after my trip around Europe. Somehow, the familiarity of my crowded commutes was an odd comfort after the constant change […]
A drink brings everyone together… At night, the Tube takes on a different atmosphere, it becomes more social when groups of people travel together. Few people are going to work, instead they’re jovially coming back or on their way to paaaaarty. I was coming home from Romford after a meal […]
Another morning commute… Another exciting day heading to work in central London, surrounded by fellow commuters reading, playing on their phones or eagerly waiting to reach their destination. Nothing specific caught my eye,it felt like any other commute. This time is used the Adobe Draw app, one I’ve rarely use […]
You can transport anything on the Tube… Time it right and you can use the Tube to carry anything: furniture, giant luggage, a class of kids — but not in rush hour! It seems the main reason I use the District line is to go to the V&A, which is […]
Sometimes there’s just not enough seats on the Tube… It was a lot warmer back in August, but since this drawing has been completed the weather is more autumnal – now everyone has a coat and umbrella, and scarves and gloves will follow soon. This work is based on a sketch of a […]
No sunburn or cakes for me thanks, just commuting. I took me a while to draw this. I had originally abandoned it and left it as an onsite sketch, and I went on to draw other work, but the central character protectively holding a box of cupcakes proved hard to […]