Len Grant

Fancy trying your hand at urban sketching? Don't know where to start? Then come along to my beginners' workshop on Saturday, 27th June as part of the @didsburyartsfestival Book on Eventbrite through their website. Or search 'Len Grant Eventbrite' or follow the links in my profile. See you there!

Really enjoyable few days in Glasgow. Thanks to the organisers. And thanks to the super friendly people of Glasgow who welcomed us. Terrific.

The visual arts plays a big part in the festival this year and our visual arts coordinator Janie needs your help to make it happen! @justjanie_creates ☀️ We’re inviting artists to make and exhibit work in public spaces at our first ever DAF Plein Air on 28th June. If you love painting, drawing and sketching in the outdoors then this event is for you! There will be prizes awarded in the evening by artist and illustrator Simone Ridyard @Simoneridyard 🎨 Then there’s our Open Call for the DAF Summer Open. Works selected will be exhibited at venues across the village. The deadline to enter work for consideration is 5th June. And if you’d like to be a venue let us know! 🎟️ Head to the visual arts page on the website for details and entry forms. And if you would like to learn techniques, or simply want to have time and space to create with friends then check out our brilliant classes: Urban sketching for beginners with Len Grant @len_grant at The Didsbury Pub Calm art Sunday with Lelanie Slater at @Santedidsbury in West Didsbury @lelanieslaterstudio Life drawing with Susannah at Now, draw! at @WestcroftCommunityCentre @Now_draw_ Outdoor art sessions seeing through the trees with Niki Black @Nikihblackart as part of ‘artists at home’ (see programme for info) All available to book on Eventbrite now. See you there!

It’s a planting session for volunteers this afternoon. Four, then five, young people – shades and shorts – are pulling up grass alongside the path from the F’loop. There’s talk of holidays. “We loved Albania… It’s going to be the next Benidorm, don’t you think?… We’re going to Kurdistan this year.” Gardening co-ordinator Augusta is keeping everyone on track. “Next we need to tear up some cardboard,” she says, “but we have to remove any tape or labels because they won’t rot.” The plan is to lay cardboard strips on top of the cleared border, add compost and then plant the various assembled seedlings. “It’s a bit of a cheat,” admits Augusta, “Monty Don wouldn’t be caught doing this. But actually the cardboard acts as a weed suppressant, doesn't disturb the soil structure and eventually rots.” Sounds like a fine idea. “I haven’t done any gardening since I was literally about 12,” someone says. “And even then I was more of a nuisance than a help.” With the cardboard drenched and covered with compost, it’s time for the planting. “We’ve got some perennials, michaelmas daisies and lobelia,” says Augusta, with a flower pot in each hand. “These are the showy ones and we’ll put these in first and plan around them.” I complete my drawing in the shade of the shipping container that acts as a tool shed as the volunteers, heads down, quickly populate the border. It looks great in no time. “Do help yourselves to the iced tea,” encourages Augusta. [I'm making a series of drawings about @stationsouth for my next book, out in the autumn. For updates, follow the links to sign up to my newsletter. Or just search 'Len Grant' and go to my website. Thanks]

🏡 ✍️ THANKS @len_grant for dropping by and sketching Baguley Hall! We love it! And we’d love to invite you back when we have open days in future as we work to re-open this medieval treasure in the heart of #wythenshawe. Cheers Len!

Some blokes on the furthest table, in and then out of earshot because my hearing aid batteries have just given up, are pretending to be football pundits. “If you tot up all the points since he’s arrived…” Then two men, reusable Co-op bags laden, stop on the corner in front of me, one showing the other his phone. Seems they are planning their holiday. “On the front there’s a really good crab shop.” “Oo,” says his partner, impressed. Or did he say ‘kebab shop’? It’s now school chucking-out time. Parents cajole knackered offspring on the slow walk home. “You did the right thing,” says one mum, carrying the red sweatshirt and book bag, as she gets a debrief of the day. Later, he stops his pushbike on the pavement next to me. Warren says he follows me on Instagram and is an illustrator himself with a diverse style for an eclectic clientele. “I seem to be able to eek out a living from colouring in,” he says, modestly. We talk about urban sketching while he shows me his pocket sketchbook for ‘quick studies’. Very impressive. [This will appear in my new book: Len Grant's Manchester (in sketches) out in the autumn. But you can buy prints now. Check out my online shop.] @chorltonbeech @raisedbywolves.barbershop @eat.barok @chorltontraders

Had the best time drawing the energy of @rufftradeuk last Friday on Market Street. Perfect for a sunny afternoon. Thank you!

A Refuge buzzing with creativity 🎨 How wonderful that Len, Jenny and Mish popped into the Public Bar to enjoy chat and a couple of drinks whilst soaking up the atmosphere and putting it all down on paper in the most colourful way! We couldn’t resist giving them a shout-out because - wow! More creative meets, head on down. We love having you here 🫶

What wonderful weather for the Withington @popupmarketco on Saturday. Shoppers and traders all seemed to be having a grand time. This sketch will go on the cover of my latest Withington zine, Off The Walls, Volume 3 out in the next few weeks. It’s my celebration of Withington. Volume 1 sold out but still some copies of Volume 2 at @mockingbirdsmanchester or from my online shop.

We’ve been at it again. It’s another fun ‘Collab’ art session with @jennyleonardart and special guest @james.fox.creative . Jen and I have been doing these for a while now but always indoors. This is the first time the Manchester weather has allowed us to get our A2 drawing boards outside… and it was great fun. Lots of interest from passers-by and great to have Jay with us for this session. More coming up.

This is @wallop.me on Lapwing Lane, West Didsbury. It kicks off the wonderful Lapwing Lane Arcade which is the subject of one of my little stories in my next book. Have you signed up to the newsletter? You'll get monthly book updates... and yes you can always unsubscribe. Just search 'Len Grant' and one of those annoying pop ups will appear on my website. (Started a couple of weeks ago and finished this afternoon).