Irene Hawkins

Irene Hawkins kept a little notebook in her apron pocket and sketched wherever she happened to be—whether she was waiting for the bus or standing in her own garden. She loved watercolours because the colours dried lighter than they looked on the brush, so she had to trust her first try. Her painting Much Hadham Hall shows the old brick house with a quiet confidence; notice how the garden path almost disappears under shadow, making you wonder how late in the day it really is.