The old Bliss Tweed Mill at Chipping Norton is quite a landmark but one that you tend to just pass by on the way to somewhere else. So on a sunny Sunday afternoon I decided to make the trip out and actually try to sketch this impressive building.

The Bliss Mill was originally built in the 19th century and is a fine example of Victorian industrial architecture. It was converted into residential apartments in the 1980s, with access restricted via a private road. Luckily for me it also sits next to a big field with several footpaths across it.

Doing a short walk with my sketching stool and drawing stuff, I had the place to myself. I think everybody had decided to go somewhere else, so it was nice to sit out and sketch with mostly just the birdsong for company.

Here is my view and my sketch in situ.

It turned out that sketching such a grand and complicated building was more difficult than expected and my initial sketch not very good. I decided to do another smaller sketch on the same sheet and later added some watercolour.

So a not entirely successful sketching session but still pleasant to sit out in a field on a sunny day in the spring and listen to some birdsong. Maybe this is a view I will try again…