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 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
We went to visit Drawing The Italian Renaissance  at The King's Gallery. Trying to copy one of his three graces,  I  realise just how talented Raphael was!  @royalcollectiontrust 
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#penandwash #platinumpreppy #moleskinesketchbook #danielsmithwatercolors #lineandwash #raphael #drawingtheitalianrenaissance #kingsgallery #thekingsgallery
Another live masterclass with @natura.illustrata - this time, it's a Tickell's Blue Flycatcher.  Anastasiia went so quickly that I didn't have time to do the green background, but I kinda liked him as he was, so I decided not to add the background afterwards. 
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#lineandwash #watercolour #danielsmithwatercolors #platinumcarbonpen #cansonartbook #tickellsblueflycatcher #rosemaryandco #watercolourpainting #naturaillustrata
Thanks to @doug_jackson_artwork for the inspiration for this one. I used his reference photo of Big Ben / Houses of Parliament / St. Stephen's Tower / Palace of Westminster / Elizabeth Tower ... whatever you want to call it! However, I didn't follow his monochromatic tutorial, but instead decided to paint it in its true colours. (Photo is a bit blurry).
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#watercolour #penandwash #lineandwash #platinumcarbonpen #platinumcarbonink #danielsmithwatercolors #sketching #sketch #bigben #london #housesofparliament #palaceofwestminster #elizabethtower #ststephenstower #cansonmoulinduroy
I'm trying to improve my watercolour skills, so followed along with a masterclass from @natura.illustrata 
This is apparently a demoiselle crane. It was nice to try something new, albeit very much out of my comfort zone. 
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#watercolour #demoisellecrane #watercolourpainting #danielsmithwatercolors #cansonartbook #rosemaryandco #naturaillustrata
Just arrived! I know what I'm doing this afternoon @ennkaydraw 
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#lineandwash #urbansjetching #usk #watercolour #inksketching
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My Latest Instagram Posts

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. 
.
.
.
#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. 
.
.
.
#artappreciation #sienatheriseofpainting #siena #gold #artgallery #nationalgallery #orsinidiptych
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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