Summer afternoon in Bayswater

Kentish Town

Evening Sky over Church Street

The Surrey Canal, Camberwell (1935)

Birmingham with the Hall of Memory (1929)

The uncanny paintings of Algernon Newton (1880-1968). Perhaps the welcome rehabilitation of formerly unfashionable 20th Century British painters has already included the re-discovery of the work of Algernon Newton? If so, I hadn't come across this Royal Academician until recently.

On first sighting Newton's accomplished work looks extremely traditional. In technique and measured, tranquil composition they hark back to Canaletto. But take a look at the subject-matter. Newton was drawn to the shabbier side of London's and Birmingham's suburbs and canal-sides. So yes, these are urban landscapes but there's not a hint of human identification with the people of these areas. In fact people are generally absent and the viewer is presented with silent, deserted and brooding streets suffused with eerie nostalgia and uncanny atmosphere.

Above, a selection of Algernon Newton's urban landscapes. Apologies for lack of dates on certain pictures.

Two new ink and wash drawings.

The Neo-Romantic art of Keith Vaughan (1912-77). It's great to see more attention being paid to British painters of the 40s and 50s. The Pallant House Gallery will be showing a retrospective of Keith Vaughan's paintings next month. The exhibition will include some of his semi-abstract figure work of the 60s and the 70s. But its the mysterious and musty rural works of the late 40s which I've long been a fan of. Here's a small helping.

Three recent drawings based on Hebrew Scripture.

Two recent sketchbook pages, both of 'popular' singers, Johnnie Ray and Donny Osmond.

Sketchbook at Palazzola, outside Rome.

I'm currently in Italy and have begun drawing again...

Without drawing materials. I'm temporarily without drawing materials at the moment so before anything new is drawn here is a sketchbook page.

Change of Address Comic. Apologies for lack of posts recently. I have been busy moving to a new address. To celebrate/announce the new pad I produced this little comic.

I am partial to a bit of hoop splaying and acid pickling...

More industrial based drawing from my sketchbook.

Living Museum of the North. Last week I made a return visit to Beamish Open Air Museum. While the purpose of this blog is not to recommend days out I have to say strolling around Beamish is a wonderfully accurate recreation of the Northern past. Its also a treat for sign lovers like myself. Not all are vintage. Look at this hand crafted beauty advertising a fish and chip shop. Salt and vinegar on mine, ta.

Meet me outside Fine Fare. BETWEEN CHANNELS is my favourite new blog discovery. The above samples of found photo images from this site should whet your appetite. Therein you will come across many more examples of scanned 70s and 80s scenes of British drabness which this blog labels 'hauntological'. There are also some fantastic bits of clumsy letraset graphics from the same era just for good measure. Drive your Austin Allegro here.

Vintage gent's clothes packaging. Will that be a standard or tailored fit, sir?

Vintage electricals and drying equipment in an old washroom. Photographed at Ushaw College, Co.Durham.

Working Men's Club drawing, 14th April.

I recently found this interesting article on my comics at a blog called Existential Ennui. Thanks , Nick!

Four nice Odhams annuals...

New page in sketchbook, workers in industry and at leisure.

New Strip / Old Joke. Here is a new three pager based on a joke which probably dates back to stand-up comedy shows like The Comedians in the 70s. It's been floating around my mind for a while, the subject matter was attractive to me and so here is my telling of it...

Happy New Year, retreatants! Hope you enjoyed reading all those smashing annuals you got at Christmas!

Worldwide Weirdies. I've been enjoying coming across these scans of Ken Reid's full-page illustrations for Whoopee comic in the late 70's. £2 was the prize awarded to the imaginative tykes who sent in a winning title. Think my favourite here is 'Shiverpool Docks'...