In May 2022 I spent a week travelling and drawing in Northumberland. These are the pictures I drew. With the exception of the chalk drawings of medieval sculptures in Hexham Abbey, they are all drawn with brown ink, dip pen and brush, on A3 paper.
Warkworth Castle. Possibly the most romantic, on a conical hill overlooking the village, with one side sloping down through woods to the River Coquet.
Bamburgh Castle. Undoubtedly the most spectacular of the Northumbrian castles, it's a huge, complex fortress high up on a rocky promontory. There's been a fortress here for 1400 years. The current building has a Norman keep, but much of it was rebuilt in an imagined Arthurian style by the great 19th century industrialist, Lord Armstrong.
Two views of Lindisfarne Castle, also on the island. I drew the first one while sitting behind a stone wall among the sheep droppings, sheltering from a gale and slanting rain. The rain had eased off by the time I attempted the second one, but the wind hadn't and so, with no shelter, this one was drawn hastily in under ten minutes.
In September of the same year, I went back for a few more days drawing. This time, in addition to brown ink & wash, I used some watercolour.
Norham Castle. First built in 1121 it changed hands many times during the wars with Scotland. James IV bombarded it with cannon, destroying the outer walls - but then came Flodden.
The castle was painted several times by Turner.
The castle was painted several times by Turner.
Etal Castle. Built in the 14th century, it was briefly taken by James IV of Scotland shortly before his defeat - and death - at Flodden, just a few miles away.
St Lawrence's Church in Warkworth. It's built with beautiful golden stone, dating from the 12th century.