More Drypoint Etchings by Peta Bridle

Illustrator Peta Bridle sent me more of her beautiful drypoint etchings of some of my favourite people and places in the East End, which she has been working on over the summer. I love all the detail, and the depth of tone and richness of hatching this ancient technique offers, romancing these familiar locations into myth.

Wapping Old Stairs – “To reach the stairs you have a to go along a tiny passage to the side of the Town of Ramsgate. Originally, the stairs were a ferry point for people wishing to catch a boat along the river. I think they are quite beautiful and I like to see the marks of the masons’ tools, still left on the stones after all this time.”

The Widow’s Son, Bow – “The landlady stands  holding a hot cross bun in front of a large glass Victorian mirror with the pub name etched onto it. Every Good Friday, they have a custom where a sailor adds a new bun in a net hanging over the bar to celebrate the widow who once lived here, who made her drowned sailor son a hot cross bun each Easter in remembrance.”

Newham Bookshop, Barking Rd – “It is a real proper independent bookshop and they are celebrating being open for thirty-five years this year”

Newham Bookshop – This is the other side of the bookshop, the children’s side.”

Gary Arber, Third Generation Printer & Flying Ace, Roman Rd – “I love the glass display cabinets behind him, stuffed full of paper and notepads, and the Scalectric posters stuck on the front of the counter. There was string hanging down from the ceiling too and boxes everywhere!”

Anna Pellicci – “She is surrounded by her customers and it was Christmas, so the decorations are up.”

E.Pellicci, Bethnal Green Rd. “Nevio Pellicci kindly allowed me to make a couple of visits to take pictures as reference to create this etching. It was at Christmas time and after they closed for the afternoon. Daisy my daughter is sitting in the corner.”

Paul Gardner at Gardners’ Market Sundriesmen, Commercial St. “I did buy a few bags off Paul whilst I was there!”

Tanya Peixoto at bookartbookshop, Pitfield St. “I am friends with Tanya who runs this shop and she has stocked my homemade books in the past.”

Des at Des & Lorraine’s Junk Shop, Bacon St. “An amazing place that I want to re-visit since I never got to look round it properly …”

Liverpool St Station

Prints copyright © Peta Bridle