Medieval Wall Paintings, Grisly Tudor History and a Life Sized Dragon.
*pops head up from a pile of fifteenth-century chronicles*
Hello! How are you doing? Hopefully you’re planning lots of days out at your favourite historic places now the weather’s a bit more sunny. I’m off to Bristol this week, what are you up to?
In this month’s newsletter we discuss Medieval wall paintings, books and life-sized dragons…
Writing
Big news - I‘m writing a book about Medieval women, for Pen and Sword Books. I’ve already found out lots of stories I can’t wait to share with you. You can keep updated with my journey on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram but I’ll let you know more news here as it happens. Exciting times!
Over on the blog, I shared photos of some beautiful Medieval wall paintings I found in a tiny church in Checkendon, Oxfordshire. I was actually visiting the church for a different reason, opened the wooden door and stood stunned while I took in the work of an artist that stretched up on a ladder here hundreds of years ago.
I also received a copy of a book to review, called England on Fire. It’s a look at English art from ancient times to modern, and the authors describe it as a ‘visual journey through Albion’s psychic landscape.’ It’s moving and inspiring - check out the book and my review here.
This week the book tour of House of Tudor: A Grisly History goes live on Instagram, and I’m part of it. Go check out the hashtag #HouseofTudor to see what reviewers (including me) thought of it. I’ll also write up a longer review on the blog, too. An article I’ve also written will be in the latest issue of The Historians Magazine too, so keep a look out for that.
If there’s something you’d especially like to see me write about on the blog, then send me an email.
Reading
As well as England on Fire and House of Tudor I loved Amy Licence’s book this month, called Red Roses: Blanche of Gaunt to Margaret Beaufort. It was interesting to get some background on some of the Lancastrian women who dominated Medieval England and I thought that their stories were told in a balanced but compassionate way. What have you been reading this month?
Do you know a book you think I should read? Email me here.
My painting of Reading’s Market Place is now up on display (and available to buy) at Reading Biscuit Factory, so if you’re popping in to see a film there or grab a coffee do have a look around. There are some gorgeous works by other local artists, too!
I did post up a new sketch, of Reading’s Broad Street, with the historic George Hotel in the background, which is said to date from the 1400s. It’s part of the new series I’m working on, looking at how, in modern times, we use our historic spaces.
Thank you to those of you who have sent me reference photos of beautiful historic buildings for me to draw. I will get round to them, honestly!
As usual, you can check out my online shop for prints and originals that are available for sale. For many of them, a portion of the sale proceeds will go towards supporting a local organisation. You can also pick some originals and prints up from Creativ.Spaces in Caversham. Tickets are still available for my house portrait workshop there later this month.
Keep up with my sketching over at @sketcherjoey Instagram.
Roman coins found in Malmesbury go on display
Lincoln Castle has a life-size dragon called Lucy
and if you’ve got a spare £750,000 knocking about, you can buy this Medieval cottage - invite me round for a cuppa though, yes?
Have a great April! See you in May.
Keep in touch in the meantime on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.