Painters in Yalding and Wateringbury

It was a sunny day on Thursday 8th of April so my fellow artist and myself took off for the Medway to do some sketching in the village of Yalding.  We drove off with high hopes of a good day and had a look at the locks on the Medway first to see if we fancied drawing and painting the scene but discovered the watering holes were not that close so we went on to Yalding itself.  First stop. The Pub. It was closed so we walked out into the village with our pads and pencils and took up positions ready to draw.  Friend Bob Collins drew the Walnut Tree pub and I with my Fuji in hand took photographs and settled down on the steps of the war memorial to sketch my impression of the main drag. 

Yalding, you will have daffodils growing on your grass and your village will appear to have been taken with a fish-eye lens.  However, the place was pretty and well worth a visit for the artist who wants to sit and paint a village scene.  The people were friendly and talkative and we noted that although there are pubs in the village the centre for people to gather is the cafe near the memorial. 

We walked the streets, admired the church and took a stroll across the medieval bridge admiring the stonework and of course the view of the village church.  Bob, being a fat bloke and needing rests at times took it easy so I adjusted my pace and enjoyed the scenery even the more so having to stroll rather than walk.  We did a couple of sketches and I did a little intrepid exploring along a muddy bank to take pictures of the bridge. 

We had a pint and a half at the pub and some salted beef sandwiches.  They were delicious and I noticed that others who were dining seemed to enjoy their meals as much as we did.  The service was friendly and the place was a pleasant lunchtime experience. 

We waddled off after lunch to Wateringbury where we parked near the mill pond to do a couple of sketches of the pond and the houses around it.  I took pictures and drew the old mill house.  We walked up to the church where I used the camera and Bob did a sketch of the church itself.  The churchyard looked beautiful with its display of daffodils and primroses and the white blackthorn, pink almond blossom and the fine spring sunshine.  A note that in january 2009 my sister and I saw a brave primrose  in flower near a gravestone and I took the opportunity to find the plant and see how it was doing. I can report that it is in full bloom and doing well. Good on you primrose!