So Long, Harry The Pencil
February 20, 2023
I was very sorry to learn of the death of Harry Harrison (1947-2023) – also known as Harry the Pencil – at the age of seventy-six last Wednesday 15th February.
When I visited him in Mile End once, he showed me this modest little sketchbook that he filled when he was working in Great Sutton St, Clerkenwell, undertaking a single half hour drawing each lunch hour – most are nearby his office but you will spot a few further afield in Soho, Kings Cross, Hatton Garden & Spitalfields.
Drawings copyright © Estate of Harry Harrison
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What a talent Mr Harrison had. His sketches simplify amazing detail and perspective. Especially admired the Barbican.
These are wonderful. All recognisable without their titles. Lovely notes on some of them of the overheard line of conversation as people pass by. R.I.P Harry. What a great talent.
These are wonderful.
I’m sorry to hear of Harry’s passing but I loved seeing how beautifully he captured moments of his life.
Sad to hear of his death but what fantastic drawings he has left us. His depiction of so many different bits of London architecture is superb.
I just wish I had the discipline to do a half hour sketch in my lunchtime!
HARRY HARRISON (1947-2023) — R.I.P
Love & Peace
ACHIM
Gorgeous drawings to have as a legacy. They’d make lovely postcards.
These are wonderful. I’d love to own one.
Absolutely first-class drawings-are there more?
Truly fabulous images, and showing such talent. A bit of a sobering thought as he was only a year older than me. RIP Harry The Pencil.
Beautiful detailed drawings, I really love them.
RIP Harry and condolences to his family and friends.
These are beautiful. I’m glad you got to meet with Harry so you could share his work. Thank you.
Absolutely lovely drawings. Who knows what talent is amongst us as we nibble contemplatively on our ‘pret’ sarnie?
Lovely work – so natural.
I really, really like these drawings. Harry was clearly a vert talented artist. I love his individual style of drawing, I wish I could draw like it. Love and Peace Harry.
“Americans are now welcome.”
I have to be thankful about that, because it would be devastating to be unwelcome in one of my favourite places in the world.
Thank you, Harry the Pencil, for gifting us with these glorious drawings. When I look at them I can visit my favourite places whenever I like.
Go in peace.
A wonderful talent, both eye and ear. The snippets of conversation recorded are gems, as well as the drawings themselves. Pace, Harry the Pencil.
These sketches are lovely, they come alive when you look at them. They deserve to be on show in a gallery collection.
Great humour in some of them too, especially the Hatton Garden one!
Sad news about Harry. These drawings were really good – what a talented man he was and its great that he left us with these drawings.
I shared this post with some of my art colleagues who are involved with the Urban Sketchers
project. They were enthralled.
Wonderful, insightful, skillful sketches. I love the way he was able to convey the volume of
the buildings, structures — not an easy thing to accomplish. As the artist jotted down:
“Look for the strongness of things”.
Thanks for shining a light.
Lovely work.
Now that’s a book I ‘d love to see you get published! His sketchbook is amazing- I want a bound volume so much! What a commemeration that would be.
Sad to hear of Harry’s demise, but relieved that it has not gone unobserved, thanks to your offices. What a legacy he’s left.
May I endorse Susan Hadley’s suggestion – if you ever go into producing sets of postcards, put me down as a customer.
Such brilliant pictures.
Now rest in peace Harry x
Beautiful drawings. I love the quality of Harry’s line. Wish I could draw like this…
I only found out about the passing of a dear friend David(Harry)Harrison by my daughter Cordelia find him on Google last night. Harry , Paddy King, David Cooper and myself were inseparable in our school years at The Hewitt School in Norwich, we all lived in West Earlham in Norwich and I think that was the bond. Harry has always been a terrific artist , his first portraits were drawn in coal in my mum and dads whitewashed coal shed, wish we had photos but we couldn’t afford a camera in those days, Harry was the achiever working after we left school at Fielden and Mawson architects in Norwich , he knew his prospects would be better in London and he got married there. His wedding invites were hand drawn with him and his fiancée on the front in pencil just like a photograph. Rest in peace Harry always the artist.
Regards Puddy and Barbs