Hackney – Original Ink Drawing on Hand-Cast Cement Tile

An original ink drawing of a tree in Hackney, East London, its gently curving trunk supporting a broad, densely woven canopy of branches and foliage.

The tree has a distinctive, almost windswept appearance. Its trunk bends gracefully upwards before opening into a wide, flattened crown, with hundreds of small overlapping marks creating a complicated network of leaves and branches. A tiny plant growing beside its base adds a quiet detail to the composition.

The drawing captures the individual character of this urban tree, its shape suggesting years of growth and adaptation to the surrounding environment.

Drawn directly onto a hand-cast Portland cement tile, with colour pigments incorporated into the cement mixture, the delicate black ink lines contrast with the weight and solidity of the material. Subtle washes of warm orange and pale blue move across the surface, creating a softly coloured background unique to this particular casting.

Presented in a dark wooden frame, the artwork brings together the irregular, organic form of the tree with the rigid geometry of cement and wood.

Part of an ongoing body of work exploring urban trees, the places they inhabit and their relationship with the built environment. Drawing trees throughout Hackney has been an important part of this practice, documenting the overlooked natural forms that exist alongside the streets, buildings and everyday life of East London.

This is a one-of-a-kind original artwork, not a print or reproduction.

Details

• Original ink drawing on hand-cast Portland cement tile

• Colour pigments incorporated into the cement mixture

• Location: Hackney, East London

• Tile size: approximately 10cm × 10cm

• Dark wooden frame

• One-of-a-kind original artwork

• Signed by the artist

• Handmade in the UK

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