Canary Wharf #1

The great tower of Canary Wharf as it rises out of the mud in Londons Docks. On what this thing is built I have no idea, I guess they found rock down there somewhere!

These three cranes dominated the skyline of East London for many years when I lived there, and I was constantly fascinated by their slow progress towards the sky. It was like watching the progress of some modern day cathedral (but without the human spiritual aspiration.)

I spent most a day drawing this, at the end of which it began to rain again. Then a lorry driver going over a bridge to the building site detoured through a puddle and sent the whole lot over my back and down the picture! Do you see the lines in the sky and water? At first I thought it was ruined, but as the water dried I saw it was vastly improved!

This picture took pride of place in my docklands exhibition and sold on the opening night. I later tried to contrive the "dirty bucket of water" technique in my studio, but only succeeded in ruining a number of promising drawings...

Canary Wharf #1. Pastel on paper. 40"x28"

Availablity: This picture is currently in a private collection in London.

SOLD