The idea for this challenge came from Lynne through an annual A to Z blogging challenge in which she sits down and draws what she sees in and around her home city of Peterborough. My idea, which has been on the boil for a few years now, is to sit down on every bench in Morpeth, my home town, and draw what I see.

Having sat down, I look for a suitable view and take a photograph. The drawings are done from the photographs and are not drawn on the same day that the image is taken. The aim is not to draw with great accuracy but rather to capture the essence of what I see.

I’m sure that some images will be more interesting than others (some views will be quite dull). Some will certainly be harder to draw than others. Let’s see. I hadn’t realised how many benches there are in the town!

Grid references are as close as I can get.

Related blog.

21st May 2026. Outside St George’s church, right hand bench, looking NE.

55.166975, -1.685807

26th May 2026. Morpeth Town Square, bench with ‘MA Lamb’ inscription. Looking ENE.

55.167617, -1.690646

28th May 2026. Morpeth Railway Station, platform 1 waiting room, northernmost seat. Looking W.

55.162521, -1.682126

6th June 2026. Junction of Broom Close and A196. Looking SSW.

55.158742, -1.670022

6th June 2026. Outside Sainsbury’s on Shields Road. Looking NW.

55.159507, -1.681518

12th June 2026. Junction of Dark Lane and Howard Road, looking SE.

55.170593, -1.685928

18th June 2026. Morpeth Station Platform 1 by the stairs to platform 2, looking NW.

55.162243, -1.683414

18th June 2026. Morpeth Station Platform 1, Help for Heroes bench looking W.

Morpeth 55.162613, -1.681758

18th June 2026. Morpeth Station Platform 1, northernmost red bench looking W.

Morpeth 55.162608, -1.681837

2nd July 2026. Bottom of Curly Kews, most westerly bench, looking NNW to Auburn place.

55.167399, -1.694527

2nd July 2026. Bottom of Curly Kews, most easterly bench, looking NE to Oldgate Bridge.

55.167427, -1.694402

2nd July 2026. Bridge Street, outside Iceland, facing N.

55.167381, -1.689268

2nd July 2026. Junction of St. Mary’s Field and B1337, facing S.

55.160425, -1.691553

24th July 2026. Castle Park walkway, easternmost bench, facing N

55.165454, -1.688817

24th July 2026. Castle Square facing Goose Hill, facing

55.165731, -1.686328