Watercolours of Chelmsford and Writtle
James Merriott paints his way around the county town of Essex
I adore the beauty of these subjects, which are close to my Hutton home. Each of the six locations are varied in architecture, and in addition to being stunningly beautiful, they all have a great deal of history – from pretty cottages on the village green in Writtle and the splendour of Chelmsford Cathedral to a Grade II* listed neo-classical villa, Hylands House.
Diverging somewhat, I must add that I was creating these paintings at the time of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. I feel a need to add that my gratitude for her long life and constant love for the nation is accompanied with the joy and excitement of welcoming a new king. King Charles III, like me, not only has an immense love of natural beauty but also the thrill and excitement of painting it in watercolour.
The All Saints Church tower peers from above, contributing greatly to Writtle’s wonderful village green.
This was taken from a sketch completed in 1997 and painted as a snow scene.
Constructed in the 1400s as a coaching inn called The Swan, this is one of the oldest buildings in the village and is another of the beautiful buildings facing its green.
Found in the city centre, St. Mary’s was elevated to cathedral status in 1913.
With the historic one-time brewery kiln to the right and old village pump to the left, these wonderful features add to this picturesque scene.
The beautiful Hylands House painted as a winter scene without snow, enabling me to show more colours.
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You can contact James at Cottage Corner Art, 9 Byron Road, Hutton, Brentwood, CM13 2RU. Call 01277 210 728 to make an appointment.
