London Sketchbook front endpaper.indd 2 08/07/2014 3:11 PM London Sketchbook front endpaper.indd 3 08/07/2014 3:11 PM LONDON S K E T C H B O O K JASON BROOKS 1 London Sketchbook P001-160.indd 1 08/07/2014 2:51 PM London Sketchbook P001-160.indd 2 08/07/2014 2:51 PM London Sketchbook P001-160.indd 3 08/07/2014 2:51 PM London Sketchbook P001-160.indd 4 08/07/2014 2:51 PM L O N D O N S K E T C H B O O K 6 8 32 52 68 88 110 130 144 London Sketchbook P001-160.indd 5 08/07/2014 2:51 PM 6 London Sketchbook P001-160.indd 6 08/07/2014 2:51 PM A perpetual work in progress, where the greatest constant is change itself, London is a city of contrasts. The muddy tidal shore of the grey-green River Thames is strewn with evidence of two thousand years of history, dating back to Roman ‘Londinium’ and beyond, while the glittering glass and polished steel of modern buildings soar above streets teeming with the Londoners of today. Unbound by any grand plan, the original walled city has grown with an organic, illimitable energy to form a vibrant twenty-fi rst- century metropolis of 7.5 million inhabitants who speak over 300 languages. My fi rst experiences of the city, at the age of six or seven, were on day trips when my mother and I would meet my grandfather on the steps of one of its great art galleries or museums. He would always be immaculately dressed – a prototypical city gent in a smart navy suit, complete with briefcase, hat and umbrella – and the day would invariably involve a brisk walk, during which he would share his encylopedic knowledge of the city. Every street name would have a story attached, each corner a secret history to be revealed. There would be dates and facts and uproarious laughter. Later I arrived in London as an art student enrolled at Saint Martin’s. This was a fantastic and formative time for me, when life and London were full of energy and opportunity. During my student years, I was fortunate enough to live in, and get to know, many different areas, from Brixton to Bayswater, Ladbroke Grove, Soho, Willesden Green and Covent Garden. At the time it was unusual to use computers as tools to make artwork, so we were encouraged to draw from life, to paint, sculpt, make collages and take photographs. In this spirit of playful experimentation, I have tried to capture something of my London to share with you. R E G E N N S S O P A TO D N O L 7 London Sketchbook P001-160.indd 7 08/07/2014 2:51 PM