Allan T Adams
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allantadams.bsky.social
Allan T Adams
@allantadams.bsky.social
A semi-retired architectural illustrator, drawing buildings & old stuff to relieve stress. Illustration, art, archaeology, conservation, reading. FSA, Fellow Society of Architectural Illustrators (FSAI). No NFTs.
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An introduction as I have a number of new followers on Bluesky. I used to record historic buildings and illustrated their development and former use for a living.

I still draw old buildings & other things to promote understanding, particularly of the past & often of subjects in York, England.
It was recently suggested I should do more figure drawing then these studies turn up when looking for something else. It's from the early 1980s when I was building a portfolio to be an illustrator, before I got the opportunity to become an architectural illustrator.
November 25, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Something niggled me about the building in the foreground of this drawing. Turns out I had made the same mistake as the 19th century artist & not drawn in the joists holding up the projecting upper floor. Only All Saints Church, Pavement, York survives.
November 25, 2025 at 6:23 AM
As we headed into a 2nd wave of Covid in 2020, drawing York Minster seemed to offer a way of keeping steady, a little less worried. I added some pigeons (doves?) to show a bit of life.

#ArchitecturalIllustration
#Pencil #drawing
#ArtShare
November 24, 2025 at 6:33 AM
Such words help me to keep going and encourage others, especially children, to read and draw.
November 23, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Early on 29th April 1942 York suffered an air raid. The railway station was damaged, the 15th Guildhall & St Martins Church were destroyed. Many were made homeless. A replica Hurricane was used to commemorate Lt Mahe, Free French air force, who tried to stop the raid. From my archive.

#drawing
November 23, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Carved details from York Minster Chapter House. Completed in the 1280s, the chapter house has a collection of sometimes life-like characters. I drew a few over lunch breaks from snapshots taken when working on a book about the place.

#StoneworkSunday
#ArchitecturalIllustration #drawing
#ArtYear
November 23, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Reposted by Allan T Adams
An 8th century stone fragment which formed part of a saint’s shrine. The fragment was found at Jedburgh Abbey in the Scottish Borders. 📸 My own. #SundayStonework #JedburghAbbey
November 23, 2025 at 7:58 AM
"At the sign of the York Ghost Merchants". A view of Shambles & the end of Little Shambles before the crowds of the Christmas market arrived.

#ShamblesYork #ArchitecturalIllustration
#pencil #drawing
#ArtShare
November 22, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Could that be an observation platform behind the house on Northumberland Street in Alnmouth? I would give views over the River Aln, upstream of the harbour area.

#ArchitecturalIllustration
#sketchbook
#drawing
#ArtShare
November 22, 2025 at 1:27 PM
A bit of colour for a Saturday. The Roman column in Minster Yard, York. Part of the headquarters building found under the Minster 1969-71.

#ArchitecturalIllustration
#RomanYork
#pencil #drawing
#ArtShare
November 22, 2025 at 8:39 AM
The Second World War left its mark on Bamburgh in the form of beach defences, including anti-tank cubes and pillboxes. There are also a number of aeroplane items in the castle museum.

#Sketchbook #drawing #ArtShare
November 21, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Happy 6th birthday to this drawing, 34-41 Shambles, York. The white gable, 35, 36 Shambles, is the Margaret Clitherow, a shrine to a Roman Catholic martyr of the 16th century.

#ArchitecturalIllustration
#pencil #drawing
#ArtYear
November 21, 2025 at 11:10 AM
As it's #ThrowbackThursday I dug this drawing out of my 'archive'. As a student I experimented with different media. This drawing was done with Quink writing ink. Diluted it gave lovely blue & brown colours. We were encouraged to draw 'everything' & use sketchbooks daily.

#Drawing #art #sketchbook
November 20, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Bits of Bamburgh, Northumberland. The parish church, farm with horse engine house; The Copper Kettle Tea Rooms: a medieval dovecote. Seen from the castle & where we had lunch.

#ArchitecturalIllustration #pen #drawing #watercolour #Sketchbook #ArtYear
November 20, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland. An amazing place with a long history. Restored by Lord Armstrong 19th-20th century.

#ArchitecturalIllustration #drawing #PenArt
#sketchbook
#ArtShare
November 19, 2025 at 12:23 PM
An older drawing perhaps stored in my memory to inspire a study, alongside the news that the lamp had been knocked over. The corner of Minster Gates, York & Minerva guards the books.

#Minerva #bookshop #pencil #drawing #sketchbook
November 18, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Steam locomotives used to be built in York in a group of buildings by the railway station. Drawings from 2016-17.

#ArchitecturalIllustration #sketchbook #drawing #ArtYear
November 18, 2025 at 6:36 AM
Reminded on FB of the lunch breaks I got some practice drawing the view from the office window. Several breaks used wisely for each drawing of Garforth House & Micklegate, York.

#illustration #drawing
#ArtShare
November 17, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Goodramgate & Monk Bar, York. Buildings of the 14th, 17th & 18th centuries, most of them cloaked in later fabric, including a former coaching inn that ran coaches to Malton & Pickering.

#VernacularArchitecture
#pencil #drawing
#ArtYear
November 17, 2025 at 1:56 PM
On a school trip with my local junior school to the National Railway Museum, York. A good way to keep the 7 year olds amused: sketch the Channel Tunnel loco while having lunch. As the kids suggested I added a bit of colour later.

#NationalRailwayMuseum
#sketchbook #PenArt
November 16, 2025 at 3:20 PM
York Mister from Precentor's Court, York. The drawing is 9 years old today. Stepping from the Snicket by the Hole in the Wall pub & you are presented with this view.

#YorkMinster
#pencil #drawing
#ArtYear
November 16, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Reposted by Allan T Adams
#BlueSkyArtShow This #bright and vibrant macaw was done in soft pastels. This colorful parrot is a favorite of my recent works. Prints & cards featuring my artwork may be found at links in my profile. #birds #PastelArt #art
November 15, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Reminded of this detail of people outside a shop in Shambles, York. Not everyone spies the cat climbing up the wall.

#pencil #drawing #ShamblesYork
#ArtShare
November 15, 2025 at 8:13 PM
In the late 18th century the old Ouse Bridge in York was sometimes compared to the Ponte Vecchio in Florence. I drew them both back in 2023.

#ArchitecturalIllustration
#pencil #drawing
November 15, 2025 at 2:41 PM
The Old Watchtower and the Ferry Hut, Alnmouth. The former harbour master's office & lookout, where we stayed. A ferry used to take people across the R. Aln. The hut is now a tiny museum.

#Alnmouth #Northumberland
#PenArt #sketchbook #drawing
November 14, 2025 at 8:46 PM