Journeying along the streets of London and into the mind of Phil Dean, aka the Shoreditch Sketcher, you get a unique insight into how an artist thinks, as his pen becomes acquainted with The Featherstone Building EC1.
When capturing the vibrancy of London life, or the personality of a building, Phil believes that there's an element of poetry that comes through in each fluid stroke. Whilst accuracy is fundamental to his practice, it's wherever the line takes him that makes his interpretation so unique.
Commissions
There is no better way to capture a scene than sketching ‘live’ on location and there is something very true and engaging about the result. A drawing is never intended to be a photographic representation of the subject, but a portrayal of the spirit of the scene, and the very essence of the subject matter is captured in a way that photography never can.
About
Phil Dean (also known as The Shoreditch Sketcher) trained as graphic designer in Leeds, England back when learning to draw properly was essential for the job. Before computers took over, physical drawing was much more part of the creative process than it is today. Over the years, in his roles as a designer Phil gradually drew less as part of his commissioned work and more in his personal sketching work.
Books
Featuring 20 clear and easy step-by-step exercises, Tate Sketch Club: Urban Drawing is an essential guide to putting your drawing skills into practice. You’ll learn how to start, when to stop and how to fix common mistakes when drawing your favourite urban spots.