by Sarah Becker
Every month, I gatecrash a community event to experience something new, learn new skills, broaden my horizons and see what goes on across the county. So far, I’ve tried my hand at burlesque dancing, become part of a carnival troupe and hopped on the back of a Harley-Davidson ride.
This time, I opted for something a little calmer and gatecrashed Urban Sketchers Northampton – a group that comes together to sketch and paint aspects of the county – always on location.
An urban sketch is a drawing created on location, indoors or out, capturing what the sketcher sees from direct observation. Urban sketchers use any kind of media to tell the story of their surroundings, the places they live, and where they travel.
Drawing by Kevin Mears
Braving the Elements
If there is one thing you can never predict, it’s the British weather.
When I gatecrashed Northampton Urbansketchers on a brisk Saturday morning in December, I wasn’t entirely convinced it was even going to go ahead. The forecast looked unpredictable, threatening rain – and this gathering was taking place in the Market Square.
Furthermore, it was their Christmas dinner gathering. Fuelled by the promise of a good tuck-in at Zapata Lounge, the group, led by organiser Jean Edwards, decided to brave the weather.
We met beneath the star outside the Grosvenor Centre, wrapped up against the elements and ready to see what the day would bring.
Urban Sketchers Northampton has been going for over a decade – they celebrated their 10th anniversary last year – with a simple remit: to come together and draw aspects of Northamptonshire on location, not from photographs or memory.
Urban Sketchers Northampton is part of a wider umbrella group, with sketching chapters worldwide.
With origins in the USA, the group’s ethos is:
for all sketchers out there who love to draw the cities where they live and visit, from the window of their homes, from a cafe, at a park, standing by a street corner… always on location, not from photos or memory.”
The Northampton chapter was founded by Jean Edwards in April 2015. Jean had previously attended chapters elsewhere before deciding to set one up locally.
From Pubs to Parks: Finding Inspiration Everywhere
Pubs, cafés, outdoor spaces, parks and historic buildings are all prime muses for this group, who sketch both outdoors and indoors – particularly on wild, wet evenings.
A Hot Toddy or Cup of Coffee?
Food, drink and a hot cup of coffee are perfect drawing companions.
“We sketched recently at The Charles Bradlaugh pub,” one group member told me. “You have to be careful not to dip your brush in the Guinness,” he laughed. “Sip and Paint is very on-trend,” I assured.
I met my fellow sketchers under the star outside the Grosvenor Centre and quickly learned that Urbansketchers isn’t a tightly choreographed affair. It’s deliberately loose.
Everyone meets in one place, then drifts off in twos and threes to find a view that catches their eye. You sketch for around an hour, then reconvene to share what you’ve produced.
Looking Up at Market Square
I tagged along with the bulk of the group as they wandered around Market Square, settling on different vantage points to capture the surrounding buildings. In the background, the shrieks and laughter of ice skaters echoed from the rink, adding a festive soundtrack to the afternoon.
“You just have to look up,” Jean often said, to find something interesting. And she was right.
In the search for a suitable muse, different aspects of the surrounding buildings caught people’s eyes. The bright blue building above Café Track drew several admiring glances. I must confess, I noticed the ornate window decorations and intricate detailing for the first time, despite having rushed past the building countless times before.
As I lifted my gaze above the row of shops, the buildings took on a strange new fascination – ornate details, unexpected angles, features I’d walked past countless times without ever really seeing.
I perched myself down and began sketching Café Track alongside a few other group members, all of us trying to capture the minute details of the window dressings.
Rediscovering the Joy of Sketching
I hadn’t sketched since school, but something surprising happened: it all came back. I used to love drawing in a group back then, and despite being outdoors and braving the elements, that same feeling of relaxed concentration washed over me.
What I enjoyed most was noticing details of buildings I’d never paid attention to before. Usually, I’m far too busy rushing through town, ticking errands off a list.
“It’s a real antidote to the constant distraction of being bombarded by videos on your phone,” one member told me. “It’s a form of escapism. You’re focusing your mind, really looking, and trying to capture what’s in front of you.”
For others in the group, it’s the challenge itself that keeps them coming back – the satisfaction of trying to accurately record what they can see, line by line. Some members have been attending for years, returning again and again to this quiet, communal act of observation.
“We often get members of the public coming up to us in awe, watching what we’re doing,” said another sketcher.
Just as concentration took hold and I was getting into colour, the weather decided to throw in some shades of its own. Rain fell and the group started to put plan B into action – retreating to the nearest café.
The interruption was short-lived. After a brief shower, the clouds rolled back and so did the sun.
As we regrouped at the end of the hour to compare sketches, it struck me that Urban sketchers offers something increasingly rare: permission to slow down, look properly, and lose yourself – pencil in hand – in the place you thought you already knew. For art lovers of Northampton – and judging by the number of art groups dotted around the county – there are many, it offers the opportunity to pursue a hobby encouraged by like-minded people.
Verdict
If you enjoy drawing and usually see it as a solitary pursuit, you may enjoy it even more in a group where you can share that passion. It’s a genuine antidote to today’s constant distractions, offering the chance to focus on what’s in front of you and get creative. I also loved noticing parts of buildings I’d never really noticed before. I’ll definitely be back.
A big thank you to Northampton Urbansketchers for allowing me to participate and allow me insights into the group ethos.
Northampton Urbansketchers will be displaying some of their work in an exhibition at Abington Park Museum from February 1st to March 29th 2026.
For more information on Northampton Urbansketchers visit their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/418360574994935
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