Freehandlines

Freehandlines Illustrator Sketcher Painter
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Pen and watercolour of Harvard. Often described as one of the most picturesque college views in the world. Harvard’s own...
04/09/2026

Pen and watercolour of Harvard.

Often described as one of the most picturesque college views in the world. Harvard’s own Gazette notes that the sweep of calm water, rowers, shoreline trees, and handsome buildings creates this iconic image of the university.

The tower you can see is Eliot House’s it is one of Harvard’s most recognisable landmarks, 231-foot belltower with a green cupola, clock faces, and a weather vane.

Interesting facts...
The tower is also tied to some campus lore, the Harvard Crimson says Leonard Bernstein left a piano in the bell tower/cupola, I wonder if it is still there?

Pen to watercolour on this art deco gem. Hackney Town Hall is one of East London’s best-known civic buildings: a Grade I...
03/09/2026

Pen to watercolour on this art deco gem. Hackney Town Hall is one of East London’s best-known civic buildings: a Grade II listed Art Deco town hall on Mare Street, opened in 1937 and still used by Hackney Council today.

There has been a town hall on this site since 1866, but the current building replaced an earlier civic headquarters built for the old Metropolitan Borough of Hackney. The present borough was created in 1965, when Hackney, Stoke Newington, and Shoreditch were merged.

The building was designed by Lanchester & Lodge after a competition, and it was built between 1934 and 1937. Contemporary and later critics (an me!) see it as one of London’s finest examples of civic Art Deco architecture.

Interesting facts...
It is full of all the latest 1930’s technology. Such as a central vacuum system for cleaning carpets, An architect of Mayorial portraits and secure vaults for holding council cash. The vaults have been opened up as councils don’t have cash these days!

Hackney Town Hall
is located at Mare Street, London, E8 1EA. United Kingdom

Watercolour of 900,000 bricks looking beautiful together! Chicheley Hall is a Grade I listed early-18th-century country ...
31/08/2026

Watercolour of 900,000 bricks looking beautiful together!

Chicheley Hall is a Grade I listed early-18th-century country house in Buckinghamshire, near Newport Pagnell/Milton Keynes. It’s best known for its Baroque design, landscaped grounds, and long connection with the Chester family.

It’s one of those English country houses that survived with unusually little alteration, which is why architectural historians and house-lovers rate it so highly. Simon Jenkins described it as an “architectural jewel,” and it has been used for conferences, weddings, and filming.

The site has medieval roots, but the present house was built in the early 1720s for Sir John Chester, with Francis Smith of Warwick involved in the design and William Kent often credited in later accounts. The estate was later used by the military in World War II, then bought by the Royal Society, which restored it and used it as an international science centre.

Interesting fact...
A beautiful structure of 900,000 bricks and a front door (seen above) inspired by a Bernini engraving of the Chapel of the Holy Cross in the Vatican.

Pen and ink to watercolour in four stages

Watercolour of Harvard. Famous people and bells make this building interesting. Its purpose as a place to bring students...
30/08/2026

Watercolour of Harvard. Famous people and bells make this building interesting. Its purpose as a place to bring students together is much more important

Lowell House is one of Harvard College’s undergraduate residential Houses, located between Harvard Yard and the Charles River. It was built in 1930, is named for the Lowell family, and is especially known for its courtyards, traditions, and the Russian bells in its tower.

One of the first two Harvard Houses, funded through Edward Harkness’s gift and shaped by President Abbott Lawrence Lowell’s plan for Harvard’s residential House system. It was designed by Coolidge, Shepley, Bulfinch and Abbott and quickly became known as one of the most distinctive River Houses.

Interesting facts...
The Russian bells at Lowell House are one of Harvard’s most famous campus treasures. They originally came from the Danilov Monastery in Moscow, were rescued from likely destruction in the early Soviet period, and were installed in Lowell House in 1931 after being donated by Charles R. Crane.
After 78 years they were returned and Russia made new bells for Harvard in 2008.

A really famous list of residents over the years Matt Damon, Natalie Portman, Michael Crichton, John Updike, David Souter, Priscilla Chan, Nicholas Kristof, Chris Wallace, and Empress Masako.

Over six halls over 500 years, that’s history and resilience. Watercolour of the very latest. Clothworkers’ Hall is the...
29/08/2026

Over six halls over 500 years, that’s history and resilience. Watercolour of the very latest.

Clothworkers’ Hall is the historic headquarters of the Worshipful Company of Clothworkers, one of London’s great livery companies, and it stands in the City of London on Dunster Court off Mincing Lane. The present building is the sixth hall on that site, reflecting a long history shaped by fire, war, and rebuilding.

Founded in 1528 from the union of the Fullers’ and Shearmen’s Companies, originally to regulate and support the textile trade. Today, the company is mainly charitable and civic, with the hall serving as its social and administrative base.

The current hall opened in 1958 after the fifth hall was destroyed in the Blitz during the Second World War. Earlier halls were lost or replaced over time, including one destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666.

Interesting facts...
The current hall opened in 1958 after the fifth hall was destroyed in the Blitz during the Second World War. Earlier halls were lost or replaced over time, including one destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666.
The archives also include misconduct, even a killing in 1592

How’s this for a watercolour?…A large colourful flag which marks the entrance to one of London’s most progressive livery...
27/08/2026

How’s this for a watercolour?…A large colourful flag which marks the entrance to one of London’s most progressive livery halls.

Haberdashers’ Hall is one of the City of London’s more discreet buildings: A modern livery hall for an ancient guild, hidden behind gates in West Smithfield and arranged around a quiet cloistered courtyard.

The Worshipful Company of Haberdashers, one of the Great Twelve City livery companies, whose roots go back to medieval London trade and whose modern focus is strongly tied to education and schools. My daughter attended one of their colleges.

The current Hall is the company’s fourth and was opened in 2002, with Queen Elizabeth II officially opening it that year. The first hall was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666, a later one was burnt in the Blitz, and another preceded the present building on the old site before the move to Smithfield.

interesting fact...
The Hall is actually more a private gallery than ceremonial place with major artworks displayed within the building including Henry Moore, Bridget McCrum, Lynn Chadwick, and William Pye.

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