York and Berwick-upon-Tweed, May 2012

Sketches of the River Ouse, York and along the River Tweed in and around Berwick-upon-Tweed, May 2012. During a four day YHA-based trip on the way to Scotland. Very changeable weather: Sunny and fairly warm in York. Chilly in Berwick. A wet day on the Thursday, but better on the Friday. Media - pencils, pens, water soluble pastel in A4 cartridge paper sketchbook.

The reflective River Ouse, sketched just above the Lendal Bridge on the morning of 9th May, while walking from the YHA at Clifton into the city centre,  before catching the train north to Berwick-upon-Tweed. Though the river was calm during my overnight stopover in York at the beginning of the our holiday, it had been in flood the week before, following heavy rain. After more rain on Thursday 10th, it was on flood warning again. This went to show how quickly the river can rise after heavy rain in the Pennines. Upstream, the Ouse river system is called the Ure, with the Nidd and the Swale being tributaries.

View through the window on the top floor of the Granary, Berwick-upon-Tweed, looking east towards the sea.  As well as the recently opened YHA, it houses an art gallery and a cafe. 

The Royal Border Bridge, Berwick-upon-Tweed, 09/05/12. Sketched on my arrival at Berwick-upon-Tweed, viewed from the town wall. Earlier in the day, I crossed the viaduct on the train, a landmark on the London-Edinburgh line.

View of the River Tweed through a window at the Granary, Berwick-upon-Tweed, 10/05/12.

Another view of the Tweed from the Granary, looking across the river to Tweedmouth. Sketched on a very wet Thursday (10th May). After a short walk along the river in the morning and lunch in a cafe in the town, I returned to the YHA in the afternoon, just as the rain  was getting heavier. It was great to have access to the YHA during the day, with plenty of space in the top floor self-catering dining area to knuckle down to artwork and chill out.

River Tweed above the Royal Border Bridge on Friday morning (11th).  A big improvement on the day before weatherwise; though it was still and cloudy and showery. The River Tweed was very fast flowing and rough, particularly around the bridges, following rapid run-off of the rain in its catchment in southern Scotland. Saw some herons, comorants and oyster catchers along the banks of boulders and wooden debris washed down the river.

Woodland on a hillside along the Tweed above Berwick, 11/05/12.

River Tweed above Berwick, 11/05/12. A low lying, very damp field, with small creek, by the tidal estuary. 

View of the Royal Border Bridge, looking the opposite way along the river to the above view, 11/05/12.

View of the breakwater at the mouth of the River Tweed, 11/05/12, after LS Lowry. The noticeboard on the left, is one of several around the town for the Lowry train, showing the paintings and sketches he did around the town in the twentieth century. Unfortunately, the breakwater (pier) was closed for maintenance work, restricting the coastal perspective I had during my stay at Berwick-upon-Tweed.