Painting Cockermouth
It was in the late 80s when I lived in Cockermouth on South Street. I lodged with a delightful lady, that I called Mrs P. I lived opposite the charming Victorian, Croft Terrace, that's why it was the first streetscape I drew in Cockermouth. I had the front sitting room of the large Victorian semi and a bedroom to myself. Every morning Mrs P got up and made me a cooked breakfast before work. I was teaching at All Saint's School and walking in each day. Sometimes I walked up Cocker Lane and around the estate, and sometimes I walked through the marketplace and up St Helen's Street and through the little car park and over the beck to school. My head was usually full of lesson plan ideas and so I didn't really take much notice of the buildings. Now I find myself fascinated by the buildings as I wander around the back streets looking at the architecture of the town. I find gems that I want to paint. Cockermouth is one of the towns that have been described as Georgian gem towns.
I'm currently painting the houses in the lower part of St Helen's Street in five paintings. Lots of variety in the door and window shapes. Tall chimneys and an uneven roofline and the rainbow of colours are charming. Mixing the paint to match the house paint was challenging and after lots of attempts I had to go out and buy a whole new block because I just couldn't mix a particular purple.There is a high density of colourful interesting properties radiating out of the marketplace up Castlegate and up Kirkgate.
Number Six Castlegate is an architectural highlight, halfway up the short hill towards the gate of the Castle.
The cobbled forecourt to the houses on Kirkgate add to the area's charm. A number of interesting architectural features are present including elegant doorways and quoins and a carriage arch with voussoirs.
I've painted Cocker Lane and houses on Rubbybanks Road. I've recently been into Cockton's yard and I'm looking forward to tackling the random brick work of Nos 4 to 12.
I'm looking for interesting or quirky, streets and buildings to paint.
Each of the original paintings are professionally scanned by my printer and framer, Mike and his team at Castle Framing. He can then print on demand, high quality giglee prints on lovely textured archival paper.
The originals of Bank's Court and Croft Terrace are in Percy House Gallery where you can buy them and then take them into Cockermouth Arts and Crafts and choose your frame.
In the Arts and Craft shop you can see my framed original of Wordsworth Terrace and ask about the available prints. Martin and Suzy in the shop can show you the materials that I use to make my paintings. I'll be adding more to the collection as they are completed, though often the originals are sold as soon as they appear on Facebook. However, if you commission me to paint your street, then you can have the original.
Why not have a wander around the streets yourself. There is a super town trail taking in architectural gems. Do you know where the owl spies? Where the fox stalks?
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