It’s a first rough again, found lingering in the bottom drawer. When I was around 10 years old I took up transpotting, with my elder brother. It helped that we lived at the intersection of many railway lines just outside Wigan where the Royal Scot steamed past at incredible speed every lunchtime dead on 12-00 midday. We used to run down to the bridge to watch it coming and no doubt covered in smoke and soot after it passed, going. I suspect this drawing was another of the rejects for Some Missing Persons, probably because trainspotters do still exist. For … Continue reading Transpotting before Irving Welsh

Here’s another rough from my book Some Missing Persons and, like the last posting, on reviewing this there are many things about this  that I prefer to the final drawing that I used. The drawing was to accompany golden text written by my good friend Gordon Thorburn and was entitled ” Artist”. http://www.gordonthorburn.co.uk Read all about him by clicking the link above. He’s a fine fellow despite being fromYorkshire, but then not everyone’s perfect. You may be able to find some of the drawings from the book on my other site http://www.pauldaviescartoons.co.uk The drawing itself takes me back to art school … Continue reading Drawing for life

I came across this rough in my recent clear out of stuff and in many ways think it’s better than the finished drawing that I eventually used for the book. The book in question was called, is called, Some Missing Persons and is a lament for all those types who have now gone. For this particular drawing I called to memory my own early experiences of visiting barber’s shops in Wigan. For those of you outside the UK, then the place might not be familiar but it is for me. I’ve not been back there for years but in the time when I … Continue reading Barber shop rough

Another of those roughs found in the bottom of a drawer, and corny it is indeed, some days you just have to be in the mood for this sort of thing. Other days you might think , perhaps not. Someone might be in the mood for it? Continue reading Good excuse?

Ashton Keynes The way a small boat might sit in the water when waterlogged. An uncomfortable angle. Has developed from its first water association to mean slightly unhinged, so if someone is described as “ a bit ashton keynes” they can be considered to be “lying at an odd angle in the water”. Barmy but not completely. Ashton Keynes is actually a small village not far from Cirencester, beautiful part of the country. The area has a lot of lakes that are formed by sandpits, I think.   This is the last of the series that I shall be posting … Continue reading Ashton Keynes, barmy or just an odd angle?

Uley A sharpened scythe. Very useful for cutting grasses but the person doing the cutting must be stripped to the waist and have a full six pack ( of liquid refreshment like Abbeymead to hand as it is back breaking work ) After taking the refreshment it is advisable to give anyone holding a Uley a very wide birth as the blade can go almost anywhere.   Uley is a lovely little village on the way up to the Cotswold ridge from the Dursley direction, and has a really good little arts centre called Prema. Unusual for such a small … Continue reading Uley, does this cut it?

Whitminster The part of a wedding speech were the best man reflects perhaps a  little unkindly on the predilections of his erstwhile friend: the groom, on his choice of previous girlfriends before the present ‘chosen one’. Phrases like: “ …you … Continue reading Whitminster generates Frocester