Plein air sketch in my India travel sketchbook made from Haus Khas Complex in Delhi

Day 12/100 – Sketching outside in India

Of course, the second you get a sketchbook out in India, there will be onlookers. Sometimes just a few people wander by and look at the page shyly, before smiling and moving on. Other times, quite a crowd can gather, until you have unwittingly created your own little arty party.
south indian strong coffee

Day 11/100 – Two extra strong double coffees!

It happens in all forms of creative endeavour, and particularly when trying to do a project that makes you show up everyday whether you feel like it or not. Perhaps it was the grey rainy weather here in Scotland, dulling my spirits or the writing about air travel which is basically, let’s face it, pretty boring!
India 2025 Travel Journal sketchbook sketch of signs in Hauz Khas, Delhi

Day 10/100 – No Dog Poo!!

It happens in all forms of creative endeavour, and particularly when trying to do a project that makes you show up everyday whether you feel like it or not. Perhaps it was the grey rainy weather here in Scotland, dulling my spirits or the writing about air travel which is basically, let’s face it, pretty boring!
2025 India Sketchbook Travel Journal

Day 9/100 – Kuk’s Shack Pav Delights

It happens in all forms of creative endeavour, and particularly when trying to do a project that makes you show up everyday whether you feel like it or not. Perhaps it was the grey rainy weather here in Scotland, dulling my spirits or the writing about air travel which is basically, let’s face it, pretty boring!
A dog dozes in the sunshine whilst a cat looks on from above.

DAY 8 – Boring Myself to Death

It happens in all forms of creative endeavour, and particularly when trying to do a project that makes you show up everyday whether you feel like it or not. Perhaps it was the grey rainy weather here in Scotland, dulling my spirits or the writing about air travel which is basically, let’s face it, pretty boring!
My personal flight-safe sketchbook kit that I use to draw and write when I am flying.

DAY 7 – The Flight Safe Sketch Kit

The last time I flew, you were allowed blades and scissors as long as they were smaller than a certain size, but the last thing I needed was to find that the rules had changed and I had to hand over my treasured art items for deposit, and display, in the big glass box of shamefully sharp items.
Indian sketchbook page showing collected labels and sketches relating to the in-flight meal choices.

DAY 6 – Which meal?

We have flown with Virgin Atlantic before, but in the other direction towards the United States, so we didn’t know what kind of food to expect on a flight to Delhi packed mainly with Indian passengers.
A sketch of a man in a lilac turban sits in a aeroplane wearing his headphones over the top of his headdress.

DAY 5 – In-flight Entertainments

After paying attention to the safety demonstration, everyone settled down with their welcome drinks to peruse the films available on the Virgin Atlantic Heathrow to Delhi flight. Knowing how I like to watch back to back films, Trevor had very kindly bought me a pair of noise cancelling ear buds. I was excited to give them a go - only to find that although they cut out the engine noise really well, I couldn’t get them to connect (wirelessly) to the TV system.
DAY 4 - The Glamour of Glasgow Airport

DAY 4 – The Glamour of Glasgow Airport

They say that ‘it’s not the destination, it’s the journey’. Whoever said it first was definitely not a tall person flying economy class from Glasgow Airport, to London, then to Delhi.
Day 3 of my 100 days of travel sketchbooks – The India Itinerary & the Reluctant Traveller

Day 3 – The India Itinerary & the Reluctant Traveller

January 6th 2025 was a freezing day in Scotland, but it was bright with no wind, so a great day for flying. The short flight to London Heathrow was at a very civilised time so no crazy bleary eyed early starts for us. I enjoyed having pre-flight time at home to make sure we had everything on the list for the trip This is, of course, a very nice position to be in as an artist. I have enough materials to last me a lifetime and I adore dabbling in lots of different drawing techniques. Variety is the spice of life after-all!