drawing

Eyam Hall sketch

| Siân

Eyam Hall sketchDon’t let the bleak images on the National Trust website put you off visiting Eyam Hall. The Jacobean manor house has been let to the Trust on a 10 year lease and the family apparently only moved out in February, so I think it was a rush job to get some photographs up.

eyam hall

Hall from the walled garden
Rose archway
Doorway
Bowling green
Front of the hall
Sketch in progress

It was just a flying visit today and I only took quick photos of the garden, but I am definitely planning another visit over the summer; if nothing else, there’s a lovely shady spot on the bowling green that I’ve got my eye on:

Eyam Hall bowling green
Eyam Hall bowling green
Next up: I sit on some stones at Longshaw

 

Stanage/North Lees sketches

| Siân

Stanage from Dennis Knoll - Peak district sketch by Sian Hughes ArtStanage from above North Lees Hall - Peak district sketch by Sian Hughes ArtNorth Lees Hall - Peak district sketch by Sian Hughes ArtMoorland Roadside Sheep - Peak district sketch by Sian Hughes Art

Monday: Day one of my holiday! Sketchbook in hand, I set out from Dennis Knoll, underneath Stanage Edge, on the short walk to North Lees Hall. I was a bit worried that I wouldn’t be able to see anything, because it started off really misty, but it soon cleared as I descended into the valley.

Stange

Stone waymarker
Possibly a very important note
Woodland is regenerating
North Lees Hall <3
Caution! Lambs!
Lamb danger

North Lees Hall was Charlotte Bronte’s inspiration for Thornfield Hall in Jane Eyre. Apparently it was used in one of the many film adaptations too, but I’m not sure which one. You’re welcome. Google it? Anyway, it’s on my shopping list for when we win the Euromillions.

I stopped to attempt to draw the sheep on the drive back home. I probably didn’t take enough caution of the lambs though, as three of them had set up camp underneath my car by the time I’d finished.

North Lees

Next up: I try to draw some pugs.

Sketchcrawl: Edale

| Siân

Urban Sketchers Yorkshire at Edale - Peak District sketch by Sian Hughes Two urban Sketchers Yorkshire at Edale - Peak District sketch by Sian Hughes Urban Sketchers Yorkshire at Edale, view towards Mam Tor - Peak District sketch by Sian Hughes

On Saturday, around a dozen members of Sketchcrawl North ventured out to Edale in the Hope Valley, Derbyshire.  Having not been out with them for over a year (!), I am well out of practice at drawing around other people (and generally out of practice at doing things) but I was determined to get out and go go-getting. I am pleased/smug to report that I successfully navigated my way along the miles of winding road and around 100* cyclists (*estimated) all by mine self!

We walked up through the village and set up camp on the foothills of Kinder Scout, underneath Ringing Roger (ish). Following my success at getting to the venue I was puffy with confidence but, despite being pretty bold when sketching at home recently, I annoyed myself by immediately placing myself several feet away from the rest of the group and defaulting back to pencil and muddy greens. I knew I would. Oh well, I had a lovely morning and at least my horrible sketches are a record of the day. Better luck next time, hey?

I was sad to rush off after lunch because the others went back down the hill to draw the village in the afternoon, but I had to go and eat my own bodyweight in sausages, thrash the boys at ‘Cranium’ and then get a massive migraine. Anyway, as usual you can see everyone else’s sketches on the Facebook group.

Sketching kit

Sketchcrawl: Chesterfield

| Siân

IMG_1531Here be my drawings from our Sketchcrawl in Chesterfield last weekend. It was a glorious day and so I spent much of the time in the shade of the trees in the churchyard under the crooked spire. The spire itself was too hard to draw due to it being a) crooked and b) too close. But I took a photo of it instead.

img066My drawing skills were a bit dodgy so I tried to perk my sketches up with some watercolour.

img067The Rutland is a lovely pub which can be viewed from another shady spot in the church yard, as it is right next door. It provided a handy venue to share our drawings over a beverage at the end of the day.

img068After lunch, we moved onto the markets in the town centre. Again I couldn’t bear the heat (or the crowds) so hid in a corner in one of the side streets. Please don’t look too closely at the proportions, for some reason I’ve drawn a massive chimney in the middle. I’m itching to alter this one!

Not being able to find any other suitable spots in town, I went back to the churchyard – I really tried to concentrate on this one, I promise. But as you can see, I got bored when I reached the right hand page. Still, I sort of prefer it to the left!

img069If you’d like to see sketches from the rest of the group (or if you’d like to join in!) please have a look at our Facebook group: Sketchcrawl North.

Sketchcrawl Chesterfield

8/9/11: Haddon Hall

Haddon hall sketch
| Siân

Oh my goodness, look how pretty Haddon Hall is.

Look at it. Look at its pretty flowers. The inside of the house is absolutely beautiful as well, obviously, but all my photos were rubbish. You’ll just have to visit it yourself. Or Google it?

15th Century fresco seccoe in the Chapel. Thinking about doing something like this to one of the walls of our 1950s semi.

This house is just too pretty. Imagine living there though, with all those people outside taking photos and blogging about it. Annoying.

‘Do you come here often?’ Not often enough, my friends! (They didn’t have a ‘Vernon’ keyring in the gift shop, can you believe it?!). Good hommity pie in the restaurant though (also the best toilets. For reals… I was going to take a photo but I’m not quite that weird. You will have to visit to appreciate them. Go to Chatsworth, Hardwick etc., first though so you have a frame of reference).

I did a little sketch in the garden. It’s not as pretty as the real thing. How could it be?
More info on Haddon Hall here.

SHEEP! By the river at Grindleford on the way home. Always good to get a photo of the local sheeps. They’re quite chunky ones.

 
 
 
Edit for Brontë  and film-fact fans: Haddon Hall was used as the location for Thornfield in the 2011 (Fassbender) adaptation of Jane Eyre. It was also used in Pride and Prejudice 2005 (Keira Knightley), The Other Boleyn Girl and, my favourite, the Princess Bride.