Tuesday 9 October 2012

The Three Horseshoes Billericay illustration

Billericay Essex
Three Horseshoes Billericay

This is a most attractive Grade II listed building in Billericay High Street. It was originally the Three Horseshoes Public House I have found out, then a private residence and now a firm of solicitors.

I love the dormers in the roof - something special about them and as a child always fantasised about having a bedroom in one. In fact my father ran his studio in the dormer space further down the High Street in Hill House, then in its basement space a few years later.

Now there's another illustration begging to be done?


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139 High Street, Billericay, Essex.
Hand signed A4 Print of pen and marker sketch on Bockingford 190gsm watercolour paper £14.99
© Robert R Wisdom www.theartofengland.co.uk 2012 

Monday 8 October 2012

The Red Lion Billericay illustration

Billericay Essex
Red Lion Billericay

Now here's a pub that's pretty much at the heart of Billericay's High Street. I think everyone that has ever visited a pub in Billericay has been in this one at some time. Especially on a Saturday after a visit to New Lodge has ended in a home win for Billericay Town FC.

The name of an Inn in Billericay called the 'Red Lion' goes way back to the 13th and 14th centuries where it was frequented by Pilgrims. My illustration is at dusk when the pub starts to fill on a Friday night!

Must pop back there myself soon.



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The Red Lion, 113 High Street, Billericay, Essex.
Hand signed A4 Print of pen and marker sketch on Bockingford 190gsm watercolour paper £14.99
© Robert R Wisdom www.theartofengland.co.uk 2012 

N. Shelley's of Billericay illustration

Billericay Essex
N Shelleys Billericay

For as long as I can remember N. Shelleys has been trading in Billericay High Street. They have been going for 85 years now, part of the fabric (if you forgive the pun) of Billericay's High Street, and it's alway a comfort to see some of the older shops still alive and kicking.

It was sad years back to see Cottis' family bakers, Kitts hardware store and more recently Woolworths, with its original wooden varnished doors with brass fingerplates, disappear. And Essex Playthings of course - any child of the 70's will remember the toy shop brimming with Action Men and Airfix kits and ran by two lovely old ladies.

In this illustration is the Reading Rooms which dates back to 1886. The archway leading under N. Shelley lead to an engineer who used to service old classic cars.


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N. Shelley and Reading Rooms, High Street, Billericay, Essex.
Hand signed A4 Print of pen and marker sketch on Bockingford 190gsm watercolour paper £14.99
© Robert R Wisdom www.theartofengland.co.uk 2012 

Saturday 6 October 2012

Tiptree Windmill illustration

Tiptree Essex
Tiptree

It snowed heavily overnight and I went for an early morning stroll to witness the magic white transformation.

The blanket of snow had covered the modern road surfaces, drains, markings and for just a moment I felt transported back in time when roads were just plain tracks and formal pavements were reserved for the cities.

The Tiptree Windmill ('Messing Maypole Mill') has dominated the view into Tiptree from Kelvedon since 1775 and is one of Tiptree's iconic landmarks. It only stopped milling as late as 1962 but as with all windmills is as charismatic as ever. Here is an illustration that captures its timelessness.


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Hand signed A4 Print of pen and marker sketch on Bockingford 190gsm watercolour paper £14.99
Original 12' x 9" pen and marker sketch on 140lb water colour paper SOLD
© Robert R Wisdom www.theartofengland.co.uk 2012 

Friday 5 October 2012

Drawing of The Chequers Billericay

illustration of Chequers Billericay
The Chequers Billericay
 

The Chequers in Billericay, Essex, the town of my birth. My good friend rented Chequers Cottage, seen down the side of this picture at the rear of the pub for a year or two, selling art, frames and collectors cards and shared the space with a lovely lady that sold amber jewellery.

This original drawing of The Chequers Billericay was one of several of Billericay High Street - I had a frantic spell 20 years ago sketching and the drawings and illustrations are very nostalgic for me and capture the essence of Billericay as I saw it. This particular scene is at Billericay's heart. It has seen a lot of events in its history - special for me were the Billericay Town F.C. F.A. Vase victorious homecomings of the late 1970's.

More drawings to come so do follow my pages.


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Chequers, 44 High Street, Billericay, Essex.
Hand signed A4 Print of pen and marker sketch on Bockingford 190gsm watercolour paper £14.99
© Robert R Wisdom www.theartofengland.co.uk 2012