PHOTOGRAPHY: WESTMINSTER ABBEY

Westminster Abbey... Another of those tourist attractions in London that are only for the die-hard fans of history and religious mumbo jumbo. As pretty as it is both on the outside and inside, I resent having to pay for the dubious pleasure of walking around what is essentially just a church, and the £20 admission fee that is charged seems very excessive to me. Thankfully, this was one of the frequent destinations of primary school trips. I shan't be rushing there any time soon.

PHOTOGRAPHY: HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT

The House of Parliament seen from Lambeth Bridge.

PHOTOGRAPHY: NELSON MANDELA

I wrote several weeks ago about the Gandhi Statues in London... Today it is the turn of Nelson Mandela. To my knowledge there are at least statues of Mandela in London (one outside the Royal Festival Hall on the South Bank, and another in Parliament Square) and I'm not sure if either of them look particularly like him. The one in Parliament Square (see photo below) reminds me more of Morgan Freeman. Then again, without my glasses, I am as blind as a bat. Judge for yourselves.

ILLUSTRATION: MOOSE LOOSE AROUND THIS HOOSE

Illustration titled "Moose Loose Around This Hoose".

ILLUSTRATION: PSYCHEDELIC LANDSCAPE

Illustration titled Psychedelic Landscape.

PHOTOGRAPHY: A ROOM WITH A VIEW

How is this for a view?! Canary Wharf as seen from Stratford.

ILLUSTRATION: FRENCH BULLDOG GOTHIC

Illustration titled French Bulldog Gothic.

ILLUSTRATION: FRENCHIE RANGOLI

Illustration titled Frenchie Rangoli.

ILLUSTRATION: GRRR

Illustration titled Grrr.

ILLUSTRATION: KISS ME QUICK...

Illustration titled Kiss Me Quick, Bite Me Hard.

ILLUSTRATION: MONSIEUR FRENCHIE

Illustration titled Monsieur Frenchie.

ILLUSTRATION: LE GENTLEMAN

Illustration titled Le Gentleman.

ILLUSTRATION: FRENCH BULLDOG Nº4

Illustration titled French Bulldog Nº4.

ILLUSTRATION: FRENCH BULLDOG Nº3

Illustration titled French Bulldog Nº3.

ILLUSTRATION: FRENCH BULLDOG Nº2

Illustration titled French Bulldog Nº2.

ILLUSTRATION: FRENCH BULLDOG Nº1

Illustration titled French Bulldog Nº1.

ILLUSTRATION: DEVIL DOG

Illustration titled Devil Dog.

ILLUSTRATION: OWL Nº17

One of the illustrations destroyed by the devil dog... Illustration titled Owl Nº17.

ILLUSTRATION: OWL Nº16

One of the illustrations destroyed by the devil dog... Illustration titled Owl Nº16.

ILLUSTRATION: OWL Nº15

One of the illustrations destroyed by the devil dog... Illustration titled Owl Nº15.

ILLUSTRATION: OWL Nº14

One of the illustrations destroyed by the devil dog... Illustration titled Owl Nº14.

ILLUSTRATION: OWL Nº13

One of the illustrations destroyed by the devil dog... Illustration titled Owl Nº13.

ILLUSTRATION: WINTER IN DALECARLIA

WINTER IN DALECARLIA © GINGER NUT DESIGNS

This A4 illustration, titled Winter in Dalecarlia, was inspired by the decorative wooden horses (Dalahäst) from the Dalecarlia (Dalarna) region of Sweden. It features a red Dala horse, set against an imagined Dalecarlian winter background. Materials used: promarkers and fine liner pen.

This is a reworked piece, as the original version was destroyed by the devil dog.


 This is part of a mini collection of season-themed illustrations:

• Winter in Dalecarlia
• Spring in Dalecarlia
• Summer in Dalecarlia
• Autumn in Dalecarlia

ILLUSTRATION: SPRING IN DALECARLIA

SPRING IN DALECARLIA © GINGER NUT DESIGNS

This A4 illustration, titled Spring in Dalecarlia, was inspired by the decorative wooden horses (Dalahäst) from the Dalecarlia (Dalarna) region of Sweden. It features a red Dala horse, set against an imagined Dalecarlian springtime background. Materials used: promarkers and fine liner pen.

This piece has been redone, as the original version was destroyed by the devil dog.


 This is part of a mini collection of season-themed illustrations:

• Winter in Dalecarlia
• Spring in Dalecarlia
• Summer in Dalecarlia
• Autumn in Dalecarlia

PHOTOGRAPHY: THE WORK OF THE DEVIL DOG

A word of warning... If you ever have to look after a French Bulldog for a few days, make sure you have anything of value under lock and key... And also make sure that you have any artwork scanned in high resolution, otherwise the consequences could have you checking into The Priory.

I left the "Devil Dog" on his own for less than 20 minutes and upon my return, I discovered that he had set about destroying no fewer than 10 drawings (which had been hidden from sight). He obviously doesn't like owls and Dala horses. Not the end of the world, but having to redo them was not in my plans.

PHOTOGRAPHY: BUTTER WOULD NOT MELT

I have had the fortune (good and bad) of looking after a very hyperactive French Bulldog pup over the past week. He's a lovely little thing, but - my word - is he hard work. You need eyes in the back and side of your head to stop him from getting up to all kinds of mischief.

Such was his alarming tendency to eat anything and everything he could fit into his mouth, I even had to take him with me to a pub quiz (as he managed to chew his way through a packet of analgesics!!). We won, no thanks to him barking and growling at the compère throughout.

In short, he's a loveable little rogue, even more so when he's asleep!

PHOTOGRAPHY: MISSION IMPOSSIBLE

I am not a squirrel obsessive, but I must say the way they move about in ninja/ Mission Impossible fashion does amuse me a lot. Little things please little minds, I guess.

PHOTOGRAPHY: BROMPTON CEMETERY

I have blogged about Brompton Cemetery before. As cemeteries go, it is a nice one (not sure if that is the right word). I walked through there the other day while on my way to find out about some arty farty evening courses (almost getting sunstroke on the way... us gingers melt in the sun, didn't you know?) and stopped off to try to take some arty farty photos. This was the best attempt before the batteries in my camera decided to die on me. Couldn't have happened in a more appropriate place!

PHOTOGRAPHY: BEACHES IN LONDON

Beaches in London? Not possible, surely?!?! Well, there are and some with actual proper sand. I don't know if they are natural or man-made, but what I do know is that you won't see me sunning myself on any of them any time soon. The "beach" in the photo is located in Gabriel's Wharf (on the South Bank between the National Theatre and the OXO Tower).

PHOTOGRAPHY: ELEPHANT AND CASTLE

I try to avoid Elephant and Castle wherever possible, which is remarkably easy to do... The area is not one of the prettiest in London, and it does have a certain edginess to it that is quite unsettling. Not to mention its unique and poorly lit maze of subways, which makes the supposedly easy task of crossing the street a bit of nightmare.

That said, I have often wondered why the area is called Elephant and Castle (but not enough to actually look it up). However, Wikipedia has given me the answer; sadly, there were no castles inhabited by pachyderms in the vicinity!! Still I had no idea whatsoever that the area is actually called Newington. You live and learn!!

PHOTOGRAPHY: PICCADILLY CIRCUS

I don't think I have ever seen Piccadilly Circus this empty before... I doubt I ever will again.

ILLUSTRATION: ASTERIX AND FRIENDS

Illustration titled Asterix and Friends.

ILLUSTRATION: GANESHA

GANESHA © GINGER NUT DESIGNS

This A3 illustration is titled Ganesha. It is inspired by the Hindu god Ganesha. In this piece, the central point is the seated figure of Ganesha set against a multicoloured psychedelic background.  Materials used: promarkers and fine liner pens.

ILLUSTRATION: MAP OF THE UNITED KINGDOM

Illustrated map of the United Kingdom.

ILLUSTRATION: MAP OF EURASIA

Illustrated map of Eurasia.

ILLUSTRATION: MAP OF EUROPE

Illustrated partial map of Europe.

PHOTOGRAPHY: ST PAUL'S CATHEDRAL

St Paul's Cathedral and the Millennium Bridge seen from the Tate Modern.

PHOTOGRAPHY: PALACE OF WESTMINSTER

The Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament) is - alongside Buckingham Palace and Tower Bridge - one of the easily recognisable landmarks in London, and is one of my favourites.

PALACE OF WESTMINSTER  (HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT)

VIEW FROM WESTMINSTER BRIDGE

PHOTOGRAPHY: GANDHI

A new statue of Mahatma Gandhi has recently been unveiled in Parliament Square. Personally, I think it looks more like Sir Ben Kingsley, but it is possibly a kinder depiction of Gandhi than the statue in Tavistock Square Gardens. Judge for yourselves in the photos below.

MAHATMA GANDHI STATUE IN PARLIAMENT SQUARE

MAHATMA GANDHI STATUE IN TAVISTOCK SQUARE GARDENS

PHOTOGRAPHY: BIG HEAD

I had no idea what kind of duck this was (apparently it's a red-crested pochard), but I could not help but notice that its head seems far too big for its body.

PHOTOGRAPHY: BIRD ISLAND

A pelican and a cormorant sunbathing on an island in the lake in St James's Park, with Buckingham Palace in the background.

PHOTOGRAPHY: BUCKINGHAM PALACE

I've never really seen the appeal of Buckingham Palace. It may be one of London's most iconic (most recognisable) buildings, but it really is rather dreary and "beige" on the outside. I am sure it's a different story on the inside, but quite frankly I'd rather watch paint dry than visit it. I also do not understand why tourists flock there to see the Changing of the Guard. London has so much more to offer than this... Still, I suppose it's a case of horses for courses.