London - Purple and Gold

London - Purple and Gold, Rosemary Whittle, Watercolour on Paper

This snippet of London takes a closer look at some of my favourite places in the city. From Westminster, Southbank and Waterloo to Farringdon and the Barbican, many would consider this area to be the heart of London.

This smaller rendition of the capital has allowed me to explore a different colour scheme, building on my fascination with adding in metallic inks alongside rich highly pigmented watercolours. In amongst the autumnal hues there are hints of shining gold and bronze, giving this painting life.

Having lived near London all my life, I’ve spent countless hours exploring its streets, soaking in its energy, and uncovering its hidden corners. 

My map paintings explore how humans have left their mark on the world through the design of cities and landscapes. I take these marks and transform them into expressive, fluid watercolour compositions, where the movement of paint mirrors the organic, evolving nature of the city itself. The interplay of pigments, blending and flowing together, creates a unique visual language—a landscape of colour shaped by London’s streets.

Colour is at the heart of my work. Throughout this collection, I experiment with colour combinations, layering different pigments to see how they interact and react. The result is a vibrant, atmospheric map that is both familiar and abstract—a celebration of London’s past, present, and ever-changing future.

Painted on watercolour paper, this artwork is perfect for London lovers, map enthusiasts, and collectors of unique cityscapes.

Size: 

14.8 x 21 cm unframed

26 x 34.5 cm framed

This painting is framed in a black coated MDF frame. Perspex has been used instead of glass for safety and to create a lighter weight frame. Please see final image for reference.