Welcome

Claire Kerr

I am a self-taught artist who enjoys bringing urban landscapes to life through my distinctive line and wash technique.

Inspired by the character and essence of buildings, city scenes and architectural details, I capture the urban environment in ink and watercolour.

I love drawing with fountain pens and often sketch and paint on location, following the principles of the global Urban Sketchers (USk) movement.

My more considered pieces are created in the comfort of the studio. Here I can apply greater precision than fluidity, producing artwork that offers a lasting memory of a special place.

What’s on

Coming up in the middle of 2025, I’ll be taking part in Art in June. This is a series of open studios events for artists in the Kent and Surrey borders. I don’t have my own studio so have joined up with other artists and who will be exhibiting at St John’s Church in Hurst Green, Oxted, Surrey.

  • Art in June 2025

    Art in June 2025

    Selected dates 13-22 June 2025

My Latest Instagram Posts

I've bought this fabulous little quarter pan palette from @cassart1984, which reputedly has Daler Rowner Artists' watercolour in it. But I've replaced those with tiny quarter pans filled with @danielsmithartistsmaterials. 
I've photographed it next to a half pan so you can see the scale. It's fabulous and even fits in my pencil case that's fitted to my sketchbook. I can't wait to use it. I think the sable brush that comes with it is too small for me, but a waterbrush will work just fine. 
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#watercolour #watercolourpainting #watercolor #pleinairpalette #pleinair #urbansketching
This is @stjohnshurstgreen - where I'm taking part in an open studio event later this year as part of @artinjunekent 
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#watercolour #lineandwash #penandwash #platinumcarbonink #danielsmithwatercolors #archespaper #stjohnshurstgreen
I'm at @batterseaartscentre for the afternoon session of the semi-final of #paoty Looking forward to finding out who the sitter is. But don't worry,  @storyvaultfilms , I won't say a word!
I had a lovely visit to the @urbansketcherslondon exhibition at @thepavilionsmileend . Thank you to @ministrynutsandboltsdotcom for the ink demo (even though it means there are now even more art supplies on my wishlist!)
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I was delighted to see that one of my favourite urban sketchers,  @karenjjonesjohn , had some work on show. And I might just have bought one of them!
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There were some brilliant sketches. I have made it my ambition to be included next year. 
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#usk #usklondon #mileend #london #sketching #theartpavilion #theartpavilionmileend #watercolour #lineandwash
I am rediscovering my Tachikawa dip pen with Zebra G nib. I forgot how finely it draws. This is just a quick sketch of my favourite palette, an empty @rosa.ukraine gallery palette filled with @danielsmithartistsmaterials watercolours, as recommended by @janeblundellart
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#watercolour #lineandwash #platinumcarbonink #tachikawadippen #zebragnib #rosagallery #artofinstagram #penandwash #dippen
I agonised over starting to paint this - and although I'm a little unhappy with the sky - I needn't have worried; I really enjoyed doing it. 
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#artinjunekent #artinjune #watercolour #lineandwash #platinumcarbonpen #platinumcarbonink #danielsmithwatercolors #archespaper #eros #piccadillycircus #rosemaryandco #artofinstagram #inkandwash #inkandwatercolour #london
I went for a quick look around "Siena: The Rise of Painting" at @nationalgallery . I loved this from the Orsini Diptych and it was lovely to see the Wilton Diptych, because I'm pretty sure I've not seen it before. 
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#artappreciation #sienatheriseofpainting #siena #gold #artgallery #nationalgallery #orsinidiptych
Work in progress. I was in Piccadilly last week, having lunch for my birthday (and the 30-year anniversary of meeting my husband, Paul). 

I thought Eros would be a good subject, so took a photo. But boy is he fiddly. It's been very time consuming. And I've never painted something quite so black before. So I'm hoping I'll be able to channel Frans Hals and his Laughing Cavalier with its - according to Van Gogh - 27 different blacks. 

If I'm lucky, I might just finish it in time to display at @artinjunekent at the @artinjuneatstj studio.
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#penandwash #linedrawing #platinumcarbonpen #platinumcarbonink #archespaper #piccadilly #london #eros #piccadillycircus #artinjunekent
We came to see the Canalettos, expecting the Laughing Cavalier not to be here, as it is apparently on loan. But there he is, smiling away. [Edit: it was February last year that he went away on loan. I can't read properly! ]
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#thewallacecollection #franshals #laughingcavalier #artappreciation
I followed this free demo of Porto by @ianfennelly on his @urbansketchcourse site. I didn't want to copy his style ... I've done that before ... but this still has quite a bit of him in it. I am wary of adding watercolour at this stage as I am worried I will ruin it. Watch this space. My next post will tell you whether I did or did not add paint!.
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#penandink #platinumcarbonpen #cansonartbook #fabercastellpittartistpen #sketch #porto #portosketch #sketching
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My Latest Instagram Posts

I've bought this fabulous little quarter pan palette from @cassart1984, which reputedly has Daler Rowner Artists' watercolour in it. But I've replaced those with tiny quarter pans filled with @danielsmithartistsmaterials. 
I've photographed it next to a half pan so you can see the scale. It's fabulous and even fits in my pencil case that's fitted to my sketchbook. I can't wait to use it. I think the sable brush that comes with it is too small for me, but a waterbrush will work just fine. 
.
.
.
#watercolour #watercolourpainting #watercolor #pleinairpalette #pleinair #urbansketching
This is @stjohnshurstgreen - where I'm taking part in an open studio event later this year as part of @artinjunekent 
.
.
.
#watercolour #lineandwash #penandwash #platinumcarbonink #danielsmithwatercolors #archespaper #stjohnshurstgreen
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“Claire has an eye for perspective, detail and line; with an artistic flair.”

Mr. NQ, Edenbridge

“Claire has an eye for perspective, detail and line; with an artistic flair.”

Mr. NQ, Edenbridge