View from the campus

I've recently started a masters in Library and Information Science at City, University of London, and with a new heap of deadlines to meet and new areas to immerse myself in, finding time to draw has become both more difficult, and more necessary, than ever. Finding new challenges and discovering under-utilised parts of my own brain is fantastically invigorating; the academic environment is an exciting one to find myself in. Long reading lists, hours in the libraries, new technologies and an interesting, diverse cohort have been an introduction to a new world. But it is also a world that reinforces just how much the act of simply putting ink on paper is one that is vital to me.

This drawing isn't a view from the City campus at all – only these words are. The drawing is of Finsbury Park, north London, not far up the road from where I live, and drawn during a break from having my head in books for perhaps too long.

From the 32nd floor

I was lucky to be part of a group who were invited to draw from the 32nd storey of an office block in the City of London earlier this month. Compared with buildings in many other cities, the 32nd floor isn't really so high, but in London it gives you a phenomenal view.

It would have been easy just to spend the time gawping at the view and trying to make sense of which parts of town are which, but it's not often you get a chance to draw scenes like these.

Our thanks to Carlos Olvera for inviting us up. We are hoping to arrange another visit soon.

Views from a cafe no.233