Are you a Wimbledon local itching to create more in 2025? You don’t need to go far to find inspiration or a quiet place to indulge with a sketchbook or canvas. Here are a few ideas for where to go within reach of home that could let you work on your plein air skills.
Introduction to plein air sketching
Plein air sketching or painting – the act of creating while out in the open air – has been popular since the 18th century, helping artists feel immersed in the world around them and more connected to the subjects they’re studying. Bringing pencils and a sketchbook is a simple and convenient approach but, if you’re moved to painting, then watercolour is a popular choice of medium thanks to its portability and quick-drying nature, which help it capture the transient light and colours of outdoor scenes.
Wimbledon Common
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Wimbledon Common is an excellent place to start for placing yourself amongst nature. Its vast open spaces, tranquil woodlands and picturesque ponds offer a variety of subjects for sketching – before you even consider its healthy population of wildlife that can add interest to your work.
Wimbledon Park
If you’re interested in capturing a closer blend of greenery and civilisation, you may find the perfect site in Wimbledon Park. As well as beautiful green spaces, tree-lined pathways and an ornamental lake, it boasts dedicated play areas as well as facilities for tennis, athletics and adventure golf. You can even get a glimpse at the neighbouring All England Club – with potentially fascinating contrasts to be found between sketches taken both in and out of autumn’s Wimbledon Championships.
Wimbledon Village
The village part of Wimbledon has been carefully maintained to preserve a quaint, peaceful, old-fashioned feeling that could be a rich vein of inspiration for plein air painting or sketching. It’s centred around the High Street, which was part of the original medieval village here and now is home to a gentle bustle of activity, including a vibrant café culture. If you’re fascinated by depicting human activity then you’ll find plenty of room here to set up for a satisfyingly long sketching session without being overcrowded by a more urbanised area.
Seasonal events and workshops
Like many other parts of London, Wimbledon is home to plenty of passionate artists, many of whom are willing to share that passion and expertise with others. The local Wimbledon Art Studios offer a variety of workshops and classes, so it’s worth keeping an eye on its listings for plein air experiences, while in May the venue plays host to the Wimbledon Art Fair – the perfect chance to meet other artists and talk about the creative process.
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