Nick Watton

‘Looking out to sea at Budleigh, Devon’

Nick — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 14:12:12 +0000

We popped down to Budleigh Salterton (Devon) to do a quick bit of shopping, pay some cheques into the bank and have a stroll along the beach. A good idea you would have thought, but the ‘little fella’ moaned most of the way there and while we were in the shops. Started to show an interest though when we where on the beach – hooray! It was a chilly wind along the shore, so I sat drawing in the lee of some of the fishing gear that is stored on the beach to sketch, while J & R looked along the shoreline. Lots of gulls in the shallows – I think the fishermen had been working here earlier and there were bits of fish to be found. Cold hands again when I had finished. (Watercolour & brushpen)

‘Across the Clyst’

Nick — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 15:53:34 +0000

Poking about at Exton (Devon) on the estuary side, not been down here before to have a look around. Weather is still comparatively warm and the tide is well in. This sketch is looking across the river Clyst to Riversmeet House (in the trees) at the end of the Goat Walk at Topsham. Very peaceful here except for the odd train trundling past. (Watercolour)

‘Waiting on a train’

Nick — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:44:42 +0000

Riding the rails today on a ‘big expedition’ between Exmouth & Topsham on the Avocet Line (Devon). Bit warmer today, but still a chilly wind. This sketch is waiting on the platform to get the train back to Exmouth. (Pen & Brushpen)

‘The trolley man cometh’

Nick — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:58:45 +0000

The ‘little fella’ nodded off as we came over to Tesco’s this afternoon, so it was a good opportunity for a sketch in the car park. Which sounds odd, but I haven’t done one here for ages and I fancied doing another! It’s not at first glance the most of inspiring places, but it is interesting as it’s part of life. I also like the shape the trolley parks make. (Pen & Watercolour)

‘Long Shadows on Woodbury Common’

Nick — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:49:25 +0000

Cold clear winters day, with the sun dropping away. Very cold sketching, but I always love this view, looking over Woodbury Common (Devon) to the hills and sea beyond. Over East Budleigh someone is having a bonfire with smoke rising. Now I’ll have to jump around to get my hands working again, I don’t feel the cold so much when I’m painting, but when I’m finished that’s when I realize how cold I’ve become. (Watercolour)

‘Sun, Sea & Sand’ (at Exmouth, Devon)

Nick — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 20:16:09 +0000

In the above title I also haven’t mentioned that it is still a bit chilly round the edges, this January morning, but still very pleasant. We have just popped down quickly to Exmouth beach (Devon) for J to get a bit of sea air, after being cooped in the office all week. Small lad though is suffering with a cold and is not so ‘full of the joys of spring’. The tide is in and there are quite a few people about (mostly dog walkers), wrapped up in their coats, out for a sunny winters walk. (Watercolour)

‘Fishing Gear on Budleigh Salterton Beach’

Nick — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:51:30 +0000

Grey day down at Budleigh Salterton (Devon), with a chilly wind, fortunately on the beach we had our backs to it, so it wasn’t so bad. (On the way back we walked in the lee of the shops.) A lot of Gulls were wheeling around in the sky. This sketch is of some of the fishing/crabbing gear that is kept on the beach. I always find it interesting to look at and like to see industry that goes on there. Often there is a table with people gutting fish on the beach and a sign up saying ‘fish for sale’. You can’t get any fresher than that! But today we had the beach pretty much to our selves. (Watercolour)

‘Down by the river at Topsham’ (Devon)

Nick — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 16:32:40 +0000

Quick visit down to Topsham (Devon) again, for a walk around the town and along the ‘Goat Walk’. As usual we go via the church and the long flight of steps, down to the river Exe. So that we can feed the ducks, swans, geese and pigeons. Today though I think they have already been visited by more children as they are not mobbing us in there usual hungry way! (Pen, Brush & Ink to block in areas)

‘Watching on the Exe’ (Devon)

Nick — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 22:58:15 +0000

Went down to Topsham (Devon) with the sun going down, lovely low wintery light. Reasonably quiet and quite mild, one person standing on the slip looking up river. (Coloured Paper & Oil Pastels)

‘Climbing Up West Down Beacon’ (Devon)

Nick — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 20:59:46 +0000

We awoke this morning to sunshine, with the odd shower blowing through, so we all set out for a walk. The coast path from Budleigh (Devon) heading west was our idea. So we were off armed with our coats and brollies, a bit of cajoling was needed to keep the ‘wee man’ going, but this proved to be fine looking at any wildlife that we saw. We got to the top of West Down Beacon and stopped to look back the way we had come, across to Otterton ledge and beyond. A little bit of carrying the small boy on my shoulders was needed on the way back, but not much (and by the way we only had sun, no need for the bollies!) (Pen & Brush Pen)