From the Kursaal to the Pier.

This morning was absolutely beautiful so met up with Paul at the Kursaal.
http://www.lovesouthend.co.uk/things-to-do/southend-kursaal
From there we crossed to the water fountains, and moved along sketching on the way finishing in front of the shore lifeboat station.   I stupidly didn't check to see if I had ink in my pen and really could have done with the pen.   Drawing the head of the pier was quite challenging so will go back with my pen to do a bit more work on that sketch.

Sunday morning in Thorpe Bay

Walked along to Thorpe Bay fairly early this morning to make the most of what has proved to be a glorious day. 

Barge Match

I think this is the 53rd or 4th Barge Match to take place off the end of Southend pier.  I went down early with Paul and his son so we were able to do some sketches before the boats started hauling up their sails and moving into the starting place.  It was a wonderful opportunity to see these incredible boats.  A suspect package under the land end of the pier meant that we had to cut short our visit but fortunately it was nothing.  So our last few sketches were of people waiting to be able to leave whilst the authorities investigated.

Southend Pier

Southend Pier.  The longest pleasure pier in the world at 1.3 miles.   Paul took his students to the pier sketching so I decided to join them.   The weather was perfect, not too sunny, slight breeze.  Almost too many sketching options.

Latest sketches

Leigh on sea, Cliffs Pavilion

During the nice weather got a little water colour sketch done in Leigh and then the Chalk Collective organised a sketch night at the Cliffs Pavilion.  Great chance before the performance started to sketch people but during the interval not many people came to the bar.  It is also getting dark earlier so drawing the view from the windows  had to be quick.  The sketches are a little difficult to see as I used a fountain pen with a fine nib.

Leigh on sea

Another glorious day,so spent the afternoon sketching in Leigh.  Leigh hill, a really pretty house with lots of hanging baskets and then from the gardens behind the library looking out across to Canvey and onto Kent at low tide.