Southampton Medieval Merchant House from High st

Southampton Medieval Merchant House from High st

 

This painting illustrates the Medieval Merchant's House in the 'Old Town' area of the City of Southampton, UK, with its distinctive barrel hanging from the outside of the building. It is one of a number of treasures of old Medieval/ Tudor buildings to be found in the Southampton area. The house was build in 1290 by John Fortin, a local merchant. The house currently is in 14^th century appearance. It is to be found at 58 French Street, Hampshire, SO142AT.

The painting is done in oils on a red acrylic base, using a canvas board sized at 20” x 16”. It is based on a photograph taken during the summer of 2012 and painted during the summer of 2013. The house is seen through a gap in a modern development of flats, from a viewpoint standing on the main high street. I was struck by the way the modern buildings were in shadow but the merchants house was bathed in sunlight. The people were there at the time and make a good scale reference within the painting.

Southampton Medieval Merchant House from High st

Southampton Blue Anchor Lane

Southampton Blue Anchor Lane

This painting was done in March 2013. It shows Blue Anchor Lane in the boundaries of the old part of Southampton City. On the right can be seen the Tudor House Museum and King John's Palace. On the left are flat built c1980s, but originally on the site were other Tudor dwellings, with the upper floors overhanging the street, which were pulled down during the Victorian era. The street, built on a slope down to where the sea was originally, was known locally as 'Piss Pot Alley'. The occupants of the houses would throw out waste water, etc, straight out in to the street where it would go run down to the sea. St. Michael's church, founded in 1070, can be seen in the distance.

The painting is created on canvas board, sized to 16” x 20”. Initially the board is painted a bright red ground. Then the actual painting, done in Acrylics, worked on top.

Southampton Blue Anchor Lane

Church Lane, Christchurch UK acrylic painting

Church Lane, Christchurch

This is painted in Acrylics on a 16″ × 20″ canvas. It depicts a street situated in the Dorset town of Christchurch,UK. The street has lots of character and a contemporary view is seen here with the houses adorned with satellite dishes and the tarmac with road markings. I was drawn to the buildings and the rich colours of the bricks, and the signs of weathering and repair over the years (100s). The figure of a tourist is there to help with interest and scale. Painted in 2012.