During the summer I go life drawing at the Tithe Barn in Landbeach.

I don't do a lot of life drawing but the old barn is so beautiful I just love it there. The huge doors are open so we have masses of light and we can hear the cows mooing in the distance. I love the juxtaposition of naked bodies against the old barn which has have stood in the Rectory grounds and on the same site as the present building at least 650 years ago.

There is some uncertainty over the date of construction. Although listed as a 16th century barn, it may date to the medieval period as “A small number of typologically early features and characteristics can be identified in the timber frame, including passing braces and reversed assembly. These are sufficient to query the stated 16th-century date for the barn.”

I love a bit of history

I organise some of the urban sketches for Cambridge Drawing Society. I love sketching outside in the open air perched on a stool with my sketchbook on my lap. Although it does get a little uncomfortable after a time!

The Bridge the Gap walk is in aid of the Cambridge Arthur Rank Hospice so a great cause. Each year they organise a walk with Cambridge University to visit a few of the colleges. As people that live in Cambridge are not allowed to wander in to the college grounds any more, it is wonderful to explore. Most of the walk is taken getting from one college to the next. We are given maps but there are also some great people who wear a green glove to point us in the right direction. You can see one in my sketches. This I did from a photo as it seemed rude to sit in front of him!!!

The other sketch is in Pembroke. Their chapel was also open and the gardens are magnificent. I found a spot close to a wall and the people steamed past me. Some stopped and we chatted which was nice.

It was a wonderful day and although my legs were very tired at the end - I did 16,000 steps, I loved it. Already looking forward to next year.