Wivenhoe Park

What if Constable painted Wivenhoe Park today?

My painting Wivenhoe Park, Essex began after visiting the park with a group of artist friends as part of our 52 Weeks of Wivenhoe project. Over two years we had been walking and painting our way through the local landscape, and when we reached Wivenhoe Park I thought it would be fun to create a modern version of John Constable's famous painting.

The idea was simple enough — what would the scene look like today?

I replaced Constable's cows with students, introduced the University buildings and second lake, and added some of the familiar details of the park today: the cycle path, people walking beneath the trees and the brighter summer greens.

Wivenhoe House remains, although unlike Constable's original, where it is much more prominent, in my painting it is tucked away and just visible through the trees.

The sweeping sky and dramatic clouds were something I particularly wanted to retain. I painted them as they appeared on a bright, changing Essex afternoon — the sort of sky that still feels unmistakably Constable more than 200 years later.

Taking on the challenge

I originally intended to paint a smaller version. Then I decided that if I was going to do it, I might as well really do it — and paint it at the same size as Constable's original, 56 × 102 cm.

At the time, it was by far the largest painting I had attempted.

The whole project took around six months. I made eight different compositional sketches, some A4 and several full size, before settling on the final arrangement. I then used a grid to transfer the drawing onto the prepared board.

And then came the painting.

There were three different versions of the sky and lake along the way and, at one point, I came very close to packing the whole thing in. But I kept going, eventually turned a corner and suddenly felt I was back on track.

Even adding the people was a challenge. I drew them separately on tracing paper and positioned them on the painting before finally committing them to paint.

While all that was going on, I also hand-painted and finished the frame.

There were certainly moments of angst as well as fun, but it became a huge learning curve and, ultimately, a real confidence boost. I'm very glad I persevered.

Wivenhoe Park today

The finished painting is my interpretation rather than a copy of Constable's original — the same landscape, but more than 200 years later.

It shows a place that has changed and developed, but is still recognisably the landscape that caught Constable's eye all those years ago.

The original painting is now on permanent display at Wivenhoe House Hotel, Colchester, overlooking the park that inspired it.

Limited Edition Prints

A limited edition of 250 signed and numbered giclée prints is available, printed on Canson Arches Aquarelle 310gsm, 100% cotton rag paper.

Mounted prints are available in three sizes:

Small — image 29.7 × 16.5 cm, with 5 cm mount — £49
Medium — image 44.5 × 24.7 cm, with 7 cm mount — £69
Large (½ original size) — image 59.4 × 32.9 cm, with 7 cm mount — £89

Prices include the giclée print, extra-deep mount, backing board, protective wrapping and a certificate of authenticity.

Unmounted prints are also available on request.