Liverpool sketching · Mark C Grant

Liverpool in watercolour: from Castle Street to the docks

Five Liverpool paintings by Mark C Grant, with a short sketching route from Water Street and St Nick’s to the Royal Albert Dock.

Begin with one small drawing. These views make a short city-centre walk if you want to compare them in person, or a study in composition if you’re working at a table. The paintings below are Mark’s existing work; the exercises are starting points for your own sketchbook.

Castle Street to Water Street

At the Castle Street end, use the nearer buildings to find the wedge of sky. Set down the wedge and the slope of the street before drawing a single window. The two Water Street paintings make a useful pair: the street stays put, while the weather changes which shapes you notice first.

Ink and watercolour: A view west along Water Street between tall stone buildings towards the Royal Liver Building. — Water Street, Liverpool · Watercolour by Mark C Grant

Ink and watercolour: Traffic, pedestrians and wet-street reflections lead towards the Royal Liver Building on Water Street. — Rain on Water Street, Liverpool · Watercolour by Mark C Grant

The Liver Building and St Nick’s

At Pier Head, try one thumbnail built around the clock tower’s silhouette. Then look from the church gardens and give half the page to the ground in front of you. The paving and the tree make a different picture of the same landmark.

Ink and watercolour: The Royal Liver Building and its clock towers rise beneath a pale blue sky. — Royal Liver Building, Liverpool · Watercolour by Mark C Grant

The Liver Building is seen across the gardens and paving from St Nick’s, Liverpool Parish Church. — Liver Building, viewed from St Nick’s (Liverpool Parish Church) · Watercolour by Mark C Grant

Along the waterfront to Royal Albert Dock

At the basin, look across the water and draw the long block of warehouses as one shape. Keep the darkest accents for the arches and break up their reflections. Leave a little white paper in the water; a grey day still has light.

Ink and watercolour: Red-brick warehouses and reflections surround the water at Royal Albert Dock. — Royal Albert Dock, Liverpool · Watercolour by Mark C Grant

Read the places

Castle Street and Water Street · Royal Liver Building · St Nick’s gardens · Albert Dock warehouses

Browse all Mark’s watercolours · Try the Urban Sketching lesson on a receding street