No Parking (Neal's Yard 2)

So it might not be the flatiron building, but there is something special about these urban wedge-shaped buildings, particularly where the passage of time and the loss of neighbouring buildings has revealed the shape and - inevitably - a bit of character.

Darwin's Greenhouse

You may recall my painting of Darwin's Houses, painted (mostly) on site in Downe, Kent. Well, this is one end of the greenhouse that appeared in that painting.

Neal's Yard

I'm sure it wasn't quite that wonky when I took the original photographs... nor when I applied paint to canvas. I'm blaming the slightly off angle between the camera and the painting when I took the photograph of the painting of the photograph.

Darwin's Houses

Yesterday I had occasion to visit Kent with picture-making in mind. I took some photographs for potential townscapes in Bromley, then I visited the village of Downe - which has a beautiful church - before winding up at Downe House, just outside the village. Downe House's chief importance is that it was the home of Charles Darwin, an intriguing and inspiring figure in the history of science.