drawing

Inktober 2016

Over Owler Tor
| Siân

Recently, I challenged myself to produce an ink drawing (almost) every day in October as part of Inktober on Instagram. I tried to stick to Jake Parker’s official prompts as much as possible, but also keep to my own moorland/woodland theme. It was a struggle on occasion – the links got more and more tenuous, and sometimes I just drew something completely off-topic, but it gave me a nice sense of achievement to complete the set.

It was also fun to see how other people interpreted the prompts (check out #inktober2016), and I’ve found a few more lovely IGers to follow. If you’re on Instagram I’d love to see you! You can follow me @siansburys

Winter Garden Sheffield, original drawing by Sian Hughes
Inktober Day 29: Surprise! I drew an urban space. Sort of. Winter Garden Sheffield. Urbank Sketchers Yorkshire October Sketchcrawl
White Edge Lodge, original Peak District drawing by Sian Hughes
Inktober Day 27: Houses in the middle of nowhere. They’re a bit creepy, aren’t they? I’ve drawn this place a few times and I never do it justice, especially not today. White Edge Lodge was originally the gamekeeper’s lodge for Longshaw Estate. Now rented out as a holiday cottage, it was used as a location for Jane Eyre (the Fassbender one)
Over Owler Tor from Upper Padley, original ink sketch by Sian Hughes
Inktober Day 31: over Owler Tor from Upper Padley. My view en route to the garage to drop my car off this morning. Thanks for everything Inktober! Some of my best #friends are pens (I don’t understand why I’m not more popular 😂)
Crows flying over Over Owler Tor, original Peak District art by Sian Hughes
Inktober Day 19: Crows in #flight at Over Owler Tor.
Pensive girl, original drawing by Sian Hughes
Inktober Day 5: She’s #sad she’s lost her outer layers. Drawn from a Senshistock pose.
Stanage Plantation, original Peak District art by Sian Hughes
Inktober 14: tree(s) at Stanage Plantation, Dark Peak, Derbyshire.
Stanage Edge from Stanage Plantation, original art by Sian Hughes
Inktober Day 12: I didn’t get much time to draw today but I’m not going to #worry about it. Stanage Edge and High Neb from Stanage Plantation
Crows in flight, original drawing by Sian Hughes
Inktober Day 7: I #lost a crow in my drawing yesterday, which annoyed me. Today I am trying and trying again to just draw a damn crow.
Stanage Edge and High Neb from Stanage Plantation, original ink painting by Sian Hughes
Inktober Day 23: this one’s inspired by an autumn view of Stanage Edge/High Neb from Stanage Plantation
Burbage Edge in Autumn, original ink sketch by Sian Hughes
Inktober Day 10 (don’t) #jump. Burbage Edge, Peak District, Derbyshire. Original drawing in black, green and sepia ink.
Owler Tor original ink drawing by Sian Hughes
Inktober Day 30: Owler Tor. View as you walk up from Lawrencefield, Longshaw.
The Pebble, Stanage. Original art by Sian Hughes
Inktober Day 16: Wet (on wet) I’m not really paying attention to be honest, I’m watching the Crystal Maze
Ink trees, original painting by Sian Hughes
Inktober Day 24: sick child tonight so just some more #trees
Blank page and drawing tools
The artist’s struggle. Inktober Day 21: Bugger. I’ll catch up with this tomorrow
Worker's Special, original ink art by Sian Hughes
Inktober Day 4: I ate my lunch before I remembered today’s prompt was ‘hungry’, so I drew the discarded bag it came in.
Lady Canning's Plantation, original painting by Sian Hughes
Inktober Day 18: Woodland – went there to #escape to the countryside but got caught in the rain.
Mam Tor from Barker Bank, original drawing by Sian Hughes artist
Inktober Day 21, Take 2: Big. Recreated a sketch I did on site a couple of years ago of Mam Tor from Barker Bank
Higger Tor from Longshaw, original Peak District drawing by Sian Hughes
Inktober Day 15: Another quick one. This is a great place to #relax.
Girl reaching, original ink art by Sian Hughes
Inktober Day 2: Not a great drawing day so here’s a very quick sketch from a senshistock pose. I quite like how she looks as if she’s reaching for the pen though
Girl with wavy hair, original ink portrait by Sian Hughes
Inktober Day 13: Playing catchup. I did draw something in ink yesterday. Here it is. Still need to do one today
The Pebble under Stanage Edge, original Peak District drawing by Sian Hughes
Inktober Day 25: are you #tired of this view yet? A more detailed drawing of the Pebble at Stanage
Lawrencefield birch trees, original ink drawing by Sian Hughes
Inktober Day 26: a day late because ill boy again yesterday. Birch trees at Lawrencefield, Longshaw Estate, Peak District
Oak leaves, acorns and chestnuts. Original drawing by Sian Hughes
Inktober Day 2: Some Autumn stuff I collected and drew. You can’t really tell from this photo but I used gold ink
Ox Stones, Houndkirk Moor. Original drawing by Sian Hughes
Inktober 8: Rock A couple of my favourites. Ox Stones, Houndkirk Moor, near Sheffield
Carl Wark from Burbage Brook, original pen and ink sketch by Sian Hughes
Inktober Day 28. Burn. Carl Wark from Burbage Brook. There are 2 tenuous links to the theme today: 1. This is a moorland landscape which was historically managed by controlled burning. Not so much these days. 2. ‘Burn’ is sometimes used to mean stream or brook. Day 28, are we nearly there yet?
Higger Tor and Carl Wark, original painting by Sian Hughes
Inktober Day 17: Ink sketch inspired by Higger Tor and the Iron Age fort, Carl Wark.
Heather, original ink illustration drawing by Sian Hughes
Inktober Day 22: Small. The vast swathes of purple that characterise the moors in August/September are the result of the simultaneous blooming of bajillions* (*approx) of tiny heather flowers, a few of which I have drawn very badly here
Win Hill from Ladybower original ink art by Sian Hughes
Inktober Day 1: Well, I just covered everything I own in ink, so that’s a good start. A drawing inspired by Win Hill from Ladybower https://folksy.com/items/6918564-Rain-over-Win-Hill-at-Ladybower-original-ink-sketch
Sad girl seated, original ink drawing by Sian Hughes
Inktober Day 9. Sad girl drawn from a pose from senshistock.com
Pony, original ink drawing by Sian Hughes
Inktober Day 11. Meh. I’m a bit out of practise drawing my favourite mode of #transport (and also using it. I haven’t ridden for over 10 years)
October Trees, original art by Sian Hughes
Inktober Day 20: Squeeze. Bit lacking in energy to draw today. Squashed this ink blot and got trees. Also an elephant, but I went with trees, because trees.
Duke's Seat, Longshaw. Original drawing by Sian Hughes
Inktober Day 6: I drew a crow on this but it was terrible so I’ve #hidden it

You can view and buy some of my Inktober Collection on Folksy:

INKTOBER COLLECTION SHOP >>

I’m still listing these, so if you can’t find the piece you want, please contact me.

Inktober 2016 prompt list

Urban Sketching, Sheffield

| Siân
Sheffield Park Hill Electric Works Sketch
Sheffield Globe Inn Sketch
Sheffield Winter Garden Sketch Sketchbook
Sheffield Town Hall Sketch
Urban Sketching, Sheffield Hallam University, Park Hill
Urban sketching at the Globe Inn, Howard Street Sheffield

It was a surprisingly balmy October day, urban sketching in Sheffield with the talented folk of Urban Sketchers Yorkshire, taking in the sights of Sheffield.

In my sketchbook: Sheffield Town Hall, Sheffield Winter Garden (this was also my Inktober offering of the day, more on that later), The Globe Inn on Howard Street and a quick attempt at a horribly complicated panoramic view of Park Hill/Electric Works/Midland Station from Sheffield Hallam University stairwell.

Portland Works Sketches

Portland Works Sketch
| Siân

These sketches are from when I went out with  Urban Sketchers Yorkshire in June (Yes, it’s August now, I know. I’m not the most efficient person in the world, but I seriously don’t know how anybody gets anything done with a baby around).

Portland Works is a lovely grungy Grade II Listed former cutlery factory in Sheffield UK. This is where the very first stainless steel cutlery was manufactured, or so we were told!

Inspired by all the amazing work by the other sketchers, I went back a few days later and drew a view of Portland Works from the back.

Portland Works, Sheffield - urban sketch by Sian Hughes

I did this one of a nearby works a few days later too: Denby Street, Sheffield - sketch by Sian Hughes urban sketcher

Fun!

Mallorca Sketchbook 2014

| Siân

Mallorca_001

Challenged myself to draw in my sketchbook every day while we were in Mallorca recently. I almost managed it!

Port de Soller
Port de Soller
Cove below the Nautilus
Cove below the Nautilus
Lunch at the Nautilus
Lunch at the Nautilus
View from the terrace
View from the terrace
Sunset on the terrace
Sunset on the terrace
Museo del Mar
Museo del Mar
Las Delicias
Las Delicias
Fornalutx
Fornalutx
Can Prohom
Can Prohom
Fishing in the cove
Fishing in the cove
Lounging on the balcony
Lounging on the balcony
The locals catching up at El Moll
The locals catching up at El Moll
Serveis Nautics at the Marina
Serveis Nautics at the Marina
Placa Constitucio, Soller
Placa Constitucio, Soller
Mallorca_15

Stanage & Higger Tor (again)

| Siân

Stanage Sketch 1st August 2013


I must have walked on Burbage moor a thousand times but I don’t think I’ve been on Stanage edge for years, which is pretty terrible considering how often I drive past it and subconsciously take in its outline. It was forecast to be a nice afternoon so I decided to remedy that. (Click on the panorama below to view larger!)

Stanage 01/08/13

I walked along the edge and took in views of most of the walks I did last week, including the Great Ridge and Dennis Knoll which you might be able to make out on my sketch above. I don’t think either the sketch or my iPhone photos do justice to how beautiful it was out there today – there was a breathtaking view from the trig point as the sun came out which I failed to capture, but I’m glad I was there to see it!

Flat
Owler Tor from Stanage
The Great Ridge (left) from Stanage
To Higger Tor
Higger Tor
Burbage heather

Sketch done, I walked back along the edge, down from the trig point and across the road to Higger Tor before heading back through the blossoming heather to Burbage bridge.

Mam Tor and the Great Ridge sketches

| Siân

Hollins Cross towards Lose Hill, Castleton - sketch by Sian Hughes Peak District artMam Tor from Barker Bank, Castleton - sketch by Sian Hughes Peak District artist

Friday’s jaunt took me to the summit of Mam Tor (don’t be too impressed, it’s only about a 15 minute walk from the car park) and eastwards along the Great Ridge to the top of what I’m guessing is Barker Bank. If you look very carefully at the panorama photo and squint, you can just about see the spot where we were for the Sketchcrawl at Edale last weekend in the far distance. No?

Anyway, it was a blazing hot afternoon so I sensibly took plenty of water. Right? Wrong.

Looking towards Hollins Cross. I love those cartoon clouds!
Sketching at Hollins Cross. Lose Hill in the background
Sketching Mam Tor from above Hollins Cross. Land slip and closed section of A625 on right hand side
Vale of Edale from Mam Tor

I forgot to take any water. So not only was I gagging for a drink the whole time but I couldn’t use much paint. Luckily I had a bit of emergency water in my water brush so I used soluble crayon for my sketches.

And so ends of my week off! I hope you enjoyed following me. I’m going to try to keep up the walking & sketching as much as I can, but this is where the posting every day stops :)

Sketching at Ladybower

| Siân

Derwent Edge from Hurst Clough, Ladybower - Peak District sketch by Sian HughesWhinstone Lee Tor from Lead Hill, above Ladybower - Peak District sketch by Sian HughesCrook Hill from Lead Hill, above Ladybower - Peak District sketch by Sian Hughes

Yesterday I had lightly pencilled in a trip to the seaside to have an ice-cream with Sal off of littleblackheart. I dithered and dithered for several hours right up until the point where if I had set off right then, it would have been time to leave again by the time I got there. I’m so annoyed with myself. I am hopeful that she will let me reschedule our seaside friend-date for a future time when I intend to be 100% more brave.

Instead I went to the nearest thing we have to the sea, a reservoir: Ladybower. First I went for a hike up the hill to look at the view. It was stunning and peaceful for about 3-4 minutes until a bunch of other people arrived and decided to sit right next to me. It was the best spot for miles around, clearly. Look at all those lovely tors.

ladybower 1

ladybower 2

A couple of dodgy sketches bagged, I headed back down the hill for what I thought would be another 2 hour walk, but I took and accidental shortcut which only took 30 minutes. Oops. I did spot some heather in bloom, a couple of baby grouse and a bunny though, so all’s well that ends well?

Best viewing spot
Silver birches at the approach to Ladybower reservoir
More silver birches at Hurst Clough
Sketch in progress at the reservoir

I finished the afternoon by having a nice sit down by the water and imagining that it was Cleethorpes and that I had an ice cream and a friend.

Sketching at Longshaw

| Siân

View from Duke's Seat, Longshaw - Peak District sketch by Sian Hughes

On the way home from Eyam yesterday I stopped for a quick walk at Longshaw Estate. Longshaw Lodge was originally the hunting lodge for the Dukes of Rutland. I won’t give the game away, but it features in ‘The Secret Rooms’ by Catherine Bailey, which is a good read if you are interested in fancy houses and historical mysteries.

Longshaw from Duke's Seat
Brontë fans: if you fancy staying a few days at Longshaw you can rent the old gamekeepers cottage, White Edge Lodge which is a landmark in the area and was used in the 2011 (Fassbender) version of Jane Eyre.

Duke’s Seat is a lovely outcrop of rocks that is popular with swallows and sheep. It is also the perfect spot to sit and sketch the view :)

Stairway to Duke’s Seat
Sheep at Duke’s Seat
Sketch in progress
Woodland path

Next up: I don’t go to Cleethorpes