The Hunterian Museum is a sketchers paradise, boasting unrivalled collections of human and non-human anatomical and pathological specimens, models, instruments, painting and sculptures that reveal the art and science of surgery from the 17th century to the present day.

Part of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (who originate from the time of ‘barber surgeons’ – who did not need medical qualification to practice!) the building reeks of gothic horrors in medical curio cabinets, as well as a historical surgical instrument collection. Set in a grand building in the picturesque Lincolns Inn Fields it will be a great morning.

Meet group leader (Charles) at 10:50 outside the museum. Sketch from 11:00 – 12:50. Meet at agreed location at 1:00 to look at each others drawings.

Founded in 1123, austerely beautiful and hidden in the middle of Smithfield, Great St Bart’s is one of London’s oldest surviving churches. With sumptuous interior decorations and beautifully formed romanesque vaulted ceilings, it has appeared in Fours Weddings and a Funeral, Shakespeare In Love, Sherlock Holmes,Jude, The Golden Age, Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves and a host of other award winning films and TV specials. A superb location for drawing architectural perspectives, decorative sculpture, thunderous church organs and people.There are very good places to eat and drink before and after drawing,(Smiths of Smithfield recommended) Meet outside the church at 10:55 and we will enter as a group with a group discount (£3.50 per person)

Image left: © Copyright John Salmon and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence
Image right: © Copyright Mike Quinn and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Victoria & Albert Museum
Cromwell Road, South Kensington SW7 2RL
Friday 27th November 2015
6:40 – 8:45

Meet for the traditional pre-Christmas, final SKETCHMOB of 2015 at the V&A. One of the finest museums in the world, generation after generation of designers have made the V&A their place for sourcing new  forms and ideas.

As well as being an extraordinary building it has monumental Fashion, Jewellery, Armoury, Sculpture, Glass, Textiles, and Ceramics galleries.  Plus the late Friday mix of art installations, live performances, and latest interactive exhibitions

Meet in the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries between 6:40 – 6:45, tour the building and draw, then meet back in the same galleries at 8:45 to show and tell. Bring tonal paper, sketchbooks, pens and coloured pencils, but no dusty materials.

Follow us then on to the Bunch Of Grapes pub on 207 Cromwell Road at around about 9:00 to toast another great year of sketching.

If you bring guests encourage them to register.

SKETCHMOB @ Natural History Museum

FRIDAY 30th October
Cromwell Rd, London SW7 5BD
Underground – South Kensington

18.45 Meet at Hintze Hall
20.45 Review sketches at central cafe

Late Nights at the Natural History Museum are phenomenal. Make the best of this opportunity to exercise your drawing skills and rediscover its magnificent halls.

Draw an unparalleled collection of natural history specimens from the world over. This museum offers a unique and varied visual feast, from ornate galleries to the contemporary architecture of the Darwin Centre.

Meet underneath the Tyrannosaurus Rex in the main hall between 18:30-18:45pm. All you need to do is arrive with your sketching materials. The museum provides stools for free if you need one.

Thursday September 17th 6:40 – 8:40 p.m.

The John Snow Pub takes its name from Doctor John Snow whose famous “dot map” of 1854 plotted the deaths of scores of Soho cholera victims, tracing their activities to the stand pipe that gave them their drinking water. Snow famously snapped the handle off the stand pipe, and when the deaths stopped abruptly he proved that cholera was spread in water, and not as previously assumed, by miasma in the air.

Meet outside the  pub, ( 39 Broadwick Street W1F 9QJ) draw the vivid soho streets until 8:40 then meet up in the pub to look at sketches and raise a glass to John. All welcome, all free.

Image credit:
Left: Mark Hillary and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence
Right: Wellcome Library, London. Wellcome Images

Enjoy a lazy Sunday in Hyde Park. The Serpentine Summer Pavilion is a fantastic location for sketching people, interiors, light and shade, and abstract architectural forms, all in the great setting of Hyde Park. Enjoy the late strains of Summer among other sketchers -all welcome, all free.

Meet outside the Serpentine Gallery at 12:30
Draw until 2:30 then review the sketches. Retire for refreshments.

 © Copyright David Hawgood and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

Image credit: © Copyright Christine Matthews and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

Little Venice and Paddington Basin – Sunday 26th

Meet    11:00 am at Sheldon Square London W2 6EP
Sketch
Meet    Back at Sheldon Square near Zizzi’s at 1:00 to show and tell, then into a nearby bar for the swift drink

The grace and the grit of Little Venice, stamping ground of Joan Collins, Alan Turing, Obi-Wan Kenobi (actor Alec Guinness) & Joe Strummer before us.

……the Victorian elegance of the houses along the Regent’s Canal, the Westway passing from Notting Hill on its way into West End, the picturesque canal boats and characters in the heart of Paddington basin. Cafes and bars line the way. They have outdoor seats so you can drink, and draw, and be bohemian. Perfect Sunday material.

Photo credit: © Copyright Adrian Scottow under the following license

Thursday April 16th from 1pm to 4pm
Gallerie d’Italia, Piazza della Scala, Milan