A visit to the Zoology museum

I took a group of students out drawing to the Grant Museum of Zoology at UCL. We were given a wonderful introduction to the collection by the curator, there are apparently more exhibits packed into this small space than in the Natural History Museum.  On this occasion I am drawn to the spider crab and I spend a good hour looking and drawing. I am reminded of the Cafe California, a restaurant in Marbella renowned for its seafood where I go to enjoy looking at the displays of exotic seafood with many strange looking crustacea arranged on crushed ice.  After the drawing session I walk out into the Bloomsbury sunshine and find myself outside a Spanish cafe on Marchmont street and draw this couple eating calamares. Just for the record I have never eaten seafood in my life but I really like to look at it

New Years Day in Ikea

Ruminating on all of the interesting, glamorous, romantic, breathtaking, spectacular sites where I have been fortunate enough to spend New Years day as I sit in Ikea cafe surrounded by post festive shoppers taking a lunch break as they scour the bargains offered in the sales.