Urban Sketchers London book marks 10th anniversary

It was 10 years ago that the London branch of Urban Sketchers was set up. We started out with a handful of us in the old cafe at the Hayward Gallery early in 2012, and gradually got our act together, meeting to talk and drink over sketchbooks as we grew in number, exhibiting together at the old Foyles bookshop, and gathering at the first sketchcrawl organised by Londoner-turned-Californian Pete Scully some time in May.

Ten years on, we are publishing a book of drawings completed in that decade by more than 100 selected artists. It has a foreword by me, primarily because the global Urban Sketchers founder Gabi Campanario turned down the opportunity (it’s a common request for him), but also because I happened to be there at the beginning of London’s chapter.

The book costs £16 and is ready to preorder now, and can be collected from the Event Hub at this summer’s 10th anniversary celebrations in central London on 23-24 July, or sent by post. You can order your copy and get more information about collecting it at this link.

The image of St Paul’s from Tate Modern on the cover shown here is by Si Newell. There are some cracking images of the city in it from international artists as well us locals.