Essex Postcard

Beauty isn't a word that many people would think to describe Essex but whilst I was drawing this often unloved corner of England, I've come to see its unique charm and yes, beauty. And I'm not the first... many of Constable's famous landscape paintings were painted here in Essex and I've actually included one of them within my illustration of Essex (at Dedham Vale). 

The little seaside resorts of Frinton-on-Sea, Clacton and Leigh-on-Sea and Clacton still offer up innocent, old fashioned English fun: cute little beach huts, authentic pubs, fairgrounds and fish and chips. Southend-on-Sea takes it into the 21st century with state of the art architecture at the end of its infamously long pier, that juts out into the Thames Estuary.

Inland, there are chocolate box cottages and wonderful windmills, ancient castles and some great examples of public architecture oozing with civic pride, such as the town hall at Chelmsford.

Essex is a commuter county, where workers flock to and from London day after day, albeit no doubt less after lock down as remote working will enable Easties to stay at home and enjoy the lovely landscape and iconic landmarks around them. My illustration of Essex therefore includes two motorways that carve their way through the west of the county, connecting people to the capital and beyond.