Hadrian's Wall
In August 2023 we made a journey to Newcastle (that's the city with a lot of bridges over the River Tyne, in case you forgot!) and joined a historical / archaeological tour of Hadrian's Wall. I was playing catch-up, really, as I have only a sketchy knowledge of the Romans in Britain, and there were many learned doctors and specialists on the tour. I was the only artist, though - so I pulled out my sketches at the end of the trip to the entertainment of some of the group!
Dawn over the famous Cathedral spire at Newcastle - from our hotel room we had an amazing view.
Vindolanda - a very hasty sketch in charcoal of this famous site - a large Roman Fort in its time, reknowned for the discovery of written tablets with personal letters. This was sketched before a torrential downpour sent us scurrying under some giant yew tress for shelter. Our guide, Matthew Symonds, however, just kept speaking unperturbed!
Sycamore Gap - an iconic landscape view from this region. A very hasty sketch as the coach roared past, but it was so memorable, I had to draw it.
As it says, Item 703 in the Chesters Museum.
Evening sketch using watercolour and charcoal from our bedroom window of The Twice Brewed Inn, near Hexham. Hadrian's Wall climbs up the steep escarpment in the distance.
Sketching in the early morning near Hexham.
Comment
"The pictures are so wonderful and something very personal about them, having been there when Gareth was creating! The one of the views from Twice Brewed and the glass jug are really beautiful - they somehow capture the essence and spirit of the landscape / artefact that goes beyond the marks and colours on the page."
Ruth W, Stirling, Scotland
"These sketches are lovely reminders of an eventful trip!"
Stewart W, Isle of Wight, England