Doreen Fletcher’s Spitalfields Paintings

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It is my delight to publish Doreen Fletcher‘s paintings of Spitalfields, Bethnal Green and beyond. These new pictures are to be seen in Doreen’s forthcoming exhibition at Townhouse Fournier St, E1 6QE, from next Saturday 8th until Sunday 30th June. Below Doreen introduces her paintings in her own words.

Lost in Spitalfields 

“My title refers both to the maze of streets in this neighbourhood and also to the thousands of refugees from all over the world who have found sanctuary here through the centuries.

In my painting you see Christchurch in the distance, yet it does not dominate for this is an area of markets. Wentworth St has packed up for the day, all the traders and customers have gone home but a few lost souls wander, giving the place a melancholy atmosphere.

Despite the brightly painted frontage of Majestic London, Petticoat Lane only becomes truly vibrant on Sunday when the whole world strolls through these streets.”

Crossing 

“When I was young, I discovered that if I drew my surroundings sitting on top of a ladder, I was able to observe with fresh eyes. Standing on the balcony of the block where a friend lives, I was struck by the geometry and emptiness of the streets once the Petticoat Lane traders had packed up and gone. So I sought to capture this quiet aftermath when the market has closed for the day but office workers are still at their desks.”

Elegant Corner

“Standing on a the balcony, I was struck by the eccentricity of this shopfront on the corner of Middlesex St and Wentworth St. An enormous amount of effort has gone into creating this eye-catching scheme.

I discovered the shop has been in the same hands since 2004, so perhaps the fact it is still trading twenty years later is down to the undoubted enthusiasm of the proprietor?

Drawn to this corner, I wanted to celebrate the optimism I sensed in the exuberantly exterior and hint at the treasure trove lying in the cool, dark interior.”

Middlesex St 

“It was a hot sunny afternoon and, from my vantage point, Middlesex St appeared sliced in half by shadow. My eye was caught by the flash of an orange t-shirt crossing below, offset by a splash of turquoise from the back pack of a cyclist further up the street.

I prefer to wander these streets when they are deserted with just a few passersby and, recently, I discovered Mien 3, a Vietnamese restaurant with an excellent reputation. The cyclist is not just passing, he has collected an order from this restaurant.”

Galaxy Textiles, Wentworth St

“This shop has been here since 2000 and sells wholesale, shipping off merchandise in trucks and lorries. I was drawn to the empty chair on the pavement. Perhaps it is there to allow the proprietor to sit and watch the world go by when business is quiet? Such a rare human touch. “

House of Hair 

“I was struck by the colours of this façade in bright sunshine and the incongruity of its position, a crumbling edifice dwarfed by towers of concrete and glass.  

I chose to paint this scene not only because of its abstract qualities of light, colour and composition, but also because I wanted to record one of the last isolated fragments of ‘old Spitalfields’ that remains.

Bruised and battered but not broken, House of Hair is still in business. A few months ago, the dilapidated signage was replaced by machine-cut letters mounted onto glossy perspex. Progress of a sort, though I have to admit that personally I preferred the previous, crooked lettering.”

French Riviera

“I first came to Bethnal Green Rd in December 1983, looking for a jacket, and found a bargain in a leather goods shop. Apart from Woolworths, Burger King and McDonalds, I recall the place as mainly butchers with red-and-white awnings and secondhand shops.

Years later, so much has changed. Not one butcher remains and charity shops have replaced the secondhand stores. To me, the curious facade of French Riviera with its ironic signage and paintwork epitomises the transformation of the area. I assumed it was a trendy cafe, although further investigation revealed it to be a contemporary art gallery!“

Pink Fiat 

“E. Pellicci has been a constant in Bethnal Green Rd since it was opened by the Pellicci family in 1900. Even during the pandemic, it ran a takeaway service, as I discovered during the second lockdown. I was wandering around Bethnal Green in the sleet when everything was closed. The streets felt bleak, lonely and eerily quiet.

Then I spotted this Fiat parked outside Pellicci’s and my spirits lifted at the splash of bright pink in front of the yellow facade. Closer investigation revealed that the cafe was open for hot drinks served through a hatch, which was wonderfully reassuring.

Despite the grim winter’s afternoon, the juxtaposition of these two Italian icons evoked Neapolitan ice cream for me. So I went home and set about planning a painting. Three years passed before I felt satisfied with it, which is quite normal with my work.”

Barber’s Shop 

“Woodgrange Rd is next to Forest Gate station and, shortly before the Elizabeth Line opened, the shopfronts were cleaned and repainted. Yet a grittiness remains that is refreshing to encounter after a trip to the West End. It is mostly small shops, including four barbers. This one is always busy with sofas inside for customers to waiting.

My painting was begun during the pandemic and the barber is wearing a mask. Yet there is still an intimacy between barber and client which exists despite the necessity of wearing a mask.” 

The Bookmakers 

“Until 1961 betting shops were illegal and betting took place clandestinely. In the fifties, my gran took bets from punters in her kitchen and even before I was tall enough to see the scribbled bits of paper and money placed on the table, I was told to keep quiet about the frequent comings and goings at her house. 

Paddy Power is on Stratford Broadway, opposite a bus stop where I have spent a lot of time over the past fifteen years, waiting for the 308 home after visiting the Picture House. Many years of looking at this view have resulted in The Bookmakers, tempting with the allure of warmth and security within.”

Jo’s Diner

“The funfair always comes to Wanstead Flats at Easter, Whitsun and August Bank Holiday. Every Easter, I marvel at the spirit and optimism of the fairground fraternity as they set up their rides and stalls only to be deluged by the downpour. Nevertheless, these people are resilient and here we see them set up and ready, awaiting visitors. 

I made a coloured pencil study of this scene six years ago then made the painting two years ago, inspired the range of emotions present in this moment. When the funfair returned recently, Jo’s Diner had disappeared, replaced by a new food truck and I have not glimpsed it again.”

Capel Point

“I have lived near Wanstead Flats since 2007 but this is the first time I have made the Common the subject of a painting. It lies just yards from my house yet I hardly visited. This all changed when the pandemic curtailed our lives and I acquired Charlie, an energetic spaniel puppy.

For the first time, I appreciated how lucky I was to be living next to a vast open expanse where we could roam freely. Slowly I began to appreciate the immense variety of light created by the seasons, weather and time of day. I came to understand that a flat landscape has its own poetry.”

Play Zone 

‘This is the funfair on Wanstead Flats at August Bank Holiday when the night is fine although chilly. After a hot summer, the grass is brown and parched. 

Expectation is the best part of any adventure – the coloured lights glowing in the dusk, beckoning revellers from the roads nearby even as the music has ceased, the fair is winding down and punters leaving. The stalls may look tired yet there is still a blaze of light and colour that holds a promise for tomorrow.” 

Theatre Royal, Stratford East

“This theatre opened in 1884 and has survived, despite name changes, fires and closures. In 1953, it was famously taken over by Joan Littlewood and her Theatre Workshop.

I have been familiar with the facade of Theatre Royal, Stratford East, for many years, and often sat in the bar upstairs at the Picture House opposite, gazing across at it, glowing like a watchman’s brazier.

About five years ago, the theatre was repainted. Yet the memory of what had been stayed with me – the statue of Joan Littlewood against the backdrop of the facade, with its red and white paintwork glowing in the light. This is Theatre Royal, Stratford East, as I wish to remember it.”

Paintings copyright © Doreen Fletcher

You may also like to take a look at

Doreen Fletcher’s East End

A Conversation With Doreen Fletcher