Welcome to Nigel's Art:  In 1999, I turned 40 and decided, just prior to a family holiday in the Dordogne, that I would take up sketching for the first time. I had found an old book in the house on how to teach yourself to sketch, so armed with this and a set of six drawing pencils from WH Smith’s and a pad I embarked on my own journey into the world of drawing.

The book was ideal as each chapter taught you different subjects from faces, eyes, hands and mouths to animals, boats and landscapes. During the two week holiday I completed over 90 sketches from the book but also from around the gite and surrounding area (see the example on the left) as I began to gain confidence. I found the concept of being able to create something realistic that had a life of its own completely captivating.

Since that holiday, I took up charcoal drawing, then pastels and later watercolour sketches. Four years later, I finally took up oil painting, which had always been my ambition. However, the simplicity of sketching remains for me a first love and I always take a sketch book with me to France as it makes a very personal memory of the holiday.

Click on the links for a selection of my pencil sketches, watercolour sketches and finished paintings from around France.

Please note: All art is Copyright 2004 by Nigel King.  All Rights Reserved.

(Used by France for Families Limited with kind permission)