ST JAMES’ CHURCH, TROWBRIDGE

St James’ Church, Church Street, Trowbridge

Hello again — Last year I was wandering past St James’ and couldn’t help but stop and stare. There’s something about that church tucked in the centre of Trowbridge that always makes me breathe a little easier. When the town’s humming around it, the church still feels like a secret pocket of calm, and I wanted to capture that hush.

I couldn’t resist doodling every little corner of it. I spent ages building layer upon layer of tiny lines and cheeky shading — the kind of drawing that tests your patience and makes you squint at your own decision-making. Honestly, it pushed me right up against my limits in the best way. I love drawing, but every time a shape this complicated appears, I end up both cursing a bit and grinning like a fool by the end.

I’m really happy with how this one turned out. It feels familiar and a little nostalgic, and I’m itching to get some prints made so people who know St James’ can spot those small, recognisable details — the sort that spark a memory or a smile. Wouldn’t it be lovely if someone saw it and thought, “Oh yes — that’s where I once played hide and seek” or “That window reminds me of my Gran’s wedding”?

So — your thoughts? And where should my pen and tablet wander next? Another time-worn gem of Trowbridge, or something totally unexpected that makes people tilt their heads and laugh? A little surprise tempts me.