Allan T Adams
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allantadams.bsky.social
Allan T Adams
@allantadams.bsky.social
1.5K followers 420 following 1.5K posts
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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allantadams.bsky.social
Allan T Adams @allantadams.bsky.social · Mar 25
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.
A group of pictures from the recent career of an architectural illustrator. Top row, left to right: timber framed building, Halifax bomber, detail of a window. Middle row: using colour pencils, a man sketching while standing up, drawing a busy town street. Bottom row: a doorway, a man drawing on a mountain top, colour pencil drawing of roof tiles. Text and illustrations of a man drawing an archaeological plan and a house with a field boundary wall. Text from a newsletter with pictures of a man sitting drawing in a bathroom, some iron railings, a man drawing by a window and a cutaway drawing of a farmhouse and barn with weavers in the house.
allantadams.bsky.social
Reminders of Dunstanburgh Castle, Northumberland. The gatehouse, Egyncleugh Tower & Lisburn Tower. Pen sketches from photos after our holiday visit.
Pen drawing of a medieval castle gatehouse ruin. In the foreground a well and demolished building, to a left a modern wooden shed which serves as the ticket office. A ruined medieval castle tower built on the edge of a cliff. Part of the cliff face has been faced with masonry. A medieval castle tower on the edge of a cliff with hills in the distance and a vertical cliff face at the foot of the tower.
November 11, 2025 at 1:39 PM
allantadams.bsky.social
Some of York's war memorials for Armistice Day, 11th November. The North Eastern Railway and York City Memorial. Both designed by Sit Edwin Lutyens. Our employer allowed us to join commemorations at the NER one.

#Illustration #pencil #drawing
Pencil drawing of a war memorial in the form of an obelix mounted on a wall defining a rectangle with urns at the corners. There is a large stone memorial table at the centre at the top of a series of steps. A city wall can be seen in the background. Pencil drawing of a war memorial in the form of an obelix mounted on a wall defining a rectangle with urns at the corners. There is a large stone memorial table at the centre at the top of a series of steps. A building can be seen in the background. A memorial park with a circular walkway around a memorial raised on a plinth and steps. The lark is surrounded by trees, roads and buildings. Pencil drawing of a war memorial consisting of a tall cross with a tapering base and short arms. It stands on a plinth with a tier of stone deliberately turned upside, referring to the chaos of war.
November 11, 2025 at 6:28 AM
allantadams.bsky.social
Approaching Dunstanburgh Castle, starting at Craster harbour, then encountering a WW2 pillbox.

#DunstanburghCastle
#Craster
#drawing #watercolour
The ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle in the distance, some of the houses overlooking Craster harbour in the foreground. Watercolour and pencil drawing of the ruins of a medieval castle in the background. A Second World War pillbox on the edge of a small hill in the middle ground and valley with stone outcrops that look like pillars in the foreground. A pen sketch of a square pillbox made of prefabricated components sited on the edge of a hill overlooking a narrow defile with upland in the background to the left and open ground to the right.
November 10, 2025 at 5:10 PM
allantadams.bsky.social
St Helen's Square, York. A drawing I made in 2020 shows St Helen's church and the end of Stonegate.

#ArchitecturalIllustration
#pencil #drawing
#ArtShare
Pencil drawing of a three storey building at the end of a street next to a church that was remodelled in the 19th century. Plenty of people can be seen walking in the square and passing a flower stall on the right. People in a public square, one of whom is standing with a bicycle. In the background a street of three storey buildings leads off the left with a church on the right.
November 10, 2025 at 9:09 AM
allantadams.bsky.social
The Red Lion Inn, Alnmouth. We had a great pizza here during our holiday. Freshly cooked in an outdoor oven.

#ArchitecturalIllustration
#drawing #penart
#ArtYear
Pen and watercolour sketch of the outside of a public house with artificial timber framing on the upper floor and traditional stone walling on the lower floor.
November 9, 2025 at 1:05 PM
allantadams.bsky.social
Poppies for Remembrance Sunday.

We will remember them.
A colour pencil drawing of poppy flowers, some leaves drawn only in outline.
November 9, 2025 at 9:09 AM
allantadams.bsky.social
Little Croft, a house on Northumberland Street in Alnmouth. The rear wing appears to be jettied, with a larger first floor over sailing the lower floor. Could it be a medieval survivor? The front of the house has also been altered.

#Alnmouth
#ArchitecturalIllustration
#sketchbook #drawing
Pen and watercolour sketch of house with stone walls and a possibly medieval, timber framed rear wing.
November 8, 2025 at 1:49 PM
allantadams.bsky.social
The passageway through 37 Shambles, York. This may have been a reserved right of way pre-dating the 15th century structure with the arched entrance, giving access to the rear ranges of the 14th century 36 Shambles.

#ShamblesYork
#ArchitecturalIllustration
#pencil #drawing
#ArtYear
Pencil drawing of two people entering a passageway under a timber framed building.
November 8, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Reposted by Allan T Adams
lesleyphillipsart.bsky.social
Castell Coch
Castell Coch
November 7, 2025 at 8:59 AM
allantadams.bsky.social
A drawing from the archive. Having made a career of architectural illustration I tend not to draw people often. I am not very good at capturing a likeness, possibly from lack of practice, but years ago I tried to draw my better half.

#Drawing
#Pencil
#Portrait
A photocopy of a pencil drawing of a woman from behind, her face turned to her right as she sits on a chair, her left arm over the back of the chair which is only lightly drawn.
November 7, 2025 at 2:49 PM
allantadams.bsky.social
Alnmouth Village Store, 52 Northumberland Street, Alnmouth. The end of a terrace (Prospect Place) created in the 19th century by converting an 18th century granary. Happy with pen sketch, now happy with a colour copy too.

#AlnmothVillageStore #ArchitecturalIllustration
#penart #drawing
#ArtYear
Watercolour drawing of a three storey and attics with a shop on the ground floor. There is a row of sacks in front of the shop window and bicycle by the wall. The door of the shop is slightly open. Pen sketch of a gable wall with a shop on the ground floor. Small windows from the building's earlier use as a granary are seen on the upper floors. Pen sketch of a former granary made into houses with another row of houses on the right.
November 7, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Reposted by Allan T Adams
dccathcart.bsky.social
And even more bookmarks.
September 27, 2025 at 3:40 AM
allantadams.bsky.social
Books galore and now in colour. I added colour to a copy of my drawing of Barter Books, Alnwick. A bit of colour can make a big difference.

#BarterBooks #Alnwick
#PenArt #Drawing #sketchbook
#ArtYear
Pen and watercolour of a window in a stone wall at the end of a row of bookshelves in a book shop. A travelling watercolour set is used to add colour to a copy of a pen drawing of a bookshop window. Pen drawing of shelves of books arranged in a row to reveal a tall window in a stone wall. Pencil drawing of a water fountain with a basin attached to a recess in a stone wall. There are two drinking cups attached to the recess wall with chains. There is a tap between the chains. The words FILTERED WATER are inscribed on the wall above the tap.
November 6, 2025 at 12:10 PM
allantadams.bsky.social
An #ADoorableThursday offering from the archive: Ightham Mote in Kent. The gatehouse was an addition to an earlier part of the building.

#ArchitecturalIllustration
#pencil #Drawing
#ArtShare
Pencil drawing of a gatehouse tower. It is built of stone and has a doorway with timber doors on the ground floor and two floors above with three light windows. The parapet is made of brick and partly obscures the structure that protects the head of a stair to the flat roof.
November 6, 2025 at 8:00 AM
allantadams.bsky.social
A shop window in Alnmouth for #WindowsOnWednesday at Alnmouth Village Store. A great shop where we bought ingredients for dinner. It has a post office too. It's at the end of a terrace that extends along the medieval burgage plot.

#Alnmouth
#ArchitecturalIllustration
#drawing
#sketchbook
Pen sketch of the gable wall of a long building of several houses with a shop window and doorway at ground level. In front of the window is a row of sacks. A bicycle is propped against the wall. The open door gives a glimpse of shelves inside the shop. The wall is built of large stone blocks. A pen sketch of a long building with a shop in the near end. To the left is an open space with a hedge and tree in the foreground and a fence with bushes in the background. To the right another long building runs parallel to the main subject building, partly obscured by a wall and bush in the foreground.
November 5, 2025 at 7:01 PM
allantadams.bsky.social
The west facade of the church of Holy Trinity, Micklegate, York for #WindowsOnWednesday. It was heavily restored in the late 19th century & almost hidden behind buildings on Priory Street that were built on the former monastic site in the 19th century.

#ArchitecturalIllustration
#pencil #drawing
Pencil drawing of the west end of a church. The perspective almost conceals the tower built on the side of the church a little further back. The main door is flanked by a pair of blind arches and there is a decorative band of arches over windows and recesses above the door.
November 5, 2025 at 9:30 AM
allantadams.bsky.social
Boulmer, Northumberland. An active fishing village with a sort of harbour, a pub, a lifeboat shed & few cottages. A bit of urban sketching.

#ArchitecturalIllustration
#UrbanSketch
#sketchbook
#drawing
A pen and watercolour drawing of a two storey white building with a blue sign, eight windows and a porch, next to a pair of single storey cottages. The larger building is a public house called the Fishing Boat Inn. Pen and watercolour sketch of a long shed with doors in the end, a pile of lobster pots and some cottages. Sketch of a shed, cottages, a van and so e fishing boats. Sketch of two lifeboat sheds with blue doors and some Coastguard cottages.
November 4, 2025 at 5:41 PM
allantadams.bsky.social
'To add colour or leave it alone, that was the question...' Answer: add colour to a print and leave the original. Heraldry on Micklegate Bar, York, dating from 1350-75 includes the Royal Arms of England and the arms of the City of York.

#MicklegateBar #ArchitecturalIllustration
#pencil #drawing
Pencil and watercolour drawing of a masonry wall with two cross-shaped arrow loops and three rectangular windows interspersed with shields bearing coats of arms. Two are the Arms of the city of York. The third are Royal Arms of 1330-1350 with a great helm with a lion crest above it. Pencil drawing of a masonry wall with two cross-shaped arrow loops and three rectangular windows interspersed with shields bearing coats of arms. Two are the Arms of the city of York. The third are Royal Arms of 1330-1350 with a great helm with a lion crest above it.
November 3, 2025 at 4:16 PM
allantadams.bsky.social
Seen on a walk on the Northumberland Coastal Path, between Alnmouth & Boulmer. A caravan converted into a house, a pillbox at the top of some sand dunes & a signal beacon.

#ArchitecturalIllustrstion
#drawing #sketchbook
#ArtYear
Pen and watercolour sketch of a caravan converted into a holiday cottage with other, timber cottages in the background. Pen sketch of a concrete pillbox embedded in sand dunes. There is some grass on the roof. A doorway can be seen on the left and row small embrasures or openings in tow other walls. One of these is aligned with the footpath, one points out to sea. A beacon basket on a pole next to a bench seat. A rocky outcrop can be seen in the sea beyond.
November 3, 2025 at 12:37 PM
allantadams.bsky.social
Seen on walk to Boulmer. Pillbox or Alnmouth Battery, just north of Alnmouth by the Northumberland Coastal Path. Built 1881, by Algernon 6th Duke of Northumberland. Made into a pillbox 1940.

#Pillbox #PenArt #drawing #sketchbook #ArtShare
Pen sketch of a two storey defence building made of stone blocks. There is a doorway, flanked on both walls by small openings or embrasures, accessed from a flat roof over the lower storey. Steps lead down from ground level to this lower storey which has a doorway in the end wall and a window in the loner wall. Pen sketch is a doorway and recessed window embrasure in a wall made of stone blocks partly rendered worn concrete.
November 2, 2025 at 2:59 PM
allantadams.bsky.social
A window at Barter Books, Alnwick, Northumberland. The secondhand bookshop was once a railway station. The shop's cafe is in the former waiting room beyond the windows.

#BarterBooksAlnwick
#ArchitecturalIllustration
#PenArt #drawing
#ArtYear
Pen sketch of a row of bookshelves that leads to a tall window with a rounded arch over it.
November 2, 2025 at 9:20 AM
allantadams.bsky.social
Another of Alnwick's attractions is Barter Books. The bookshop is in the old railway station. Designed by William Bell and opened in 1887 closed 1968. Barter Books was opened in 1991. Many original features have been retained, including this water fountain.

#Illustration #pencil #drawing #ArtYear
A drinking fountain built onto a recess in a stone wall. It features a stone basin and there is a metal tap and two drinking cups retained by chains. Incised into the tile work back of the recess at the words: FILTERED WATER Bookshelves are placed to either side of the fixture which is in a secondhand bookshop.
November 1, 2025 at 4:59 PM
allantadams.bsky.social
Happy 1st birthday to this drawing of Jubbergate & Little Shambles, York. Little Shambles was mostly demolished to make the market place in the 1950s. Building on the left is Gert & Henry's restaurant now.

#ArchitecturalIllustration
#pencil #drawing
#ArtShare
Pencil drawing of timber framed and brick buildings with shop windows. The window on the left has cooking & dining items in it for sale. A sign reads Torrington Furniture Dealer. Composite picture of a work in progress on a pencil drawing of old buildings.
November 1, 2025 at 9:37 AM
allantadams.bsky.social
A bit of a surprise 3 years ago. My artwork of the railway goods shed at Rainham in Kent was being sold on a cushion by Historic England Archive. It was also available as a jigsaw. The drawing was published in a book just after I retired.

#ArchitecturalIllustration
#cutaway #drawing
Photograph of a cushion decorated with a print of a cutaway drawing of a railway goods shed. Railway wagons can be seen being unloaded inside the shed while horse drawn wagons are being used outside the shed. A cushion decorated with a cutaway drawing of a railway goods shed. Railway wagons being unloaded onto a platform in the brick built shed for transfer onto horse drawn transport.
November 1, 2025 at 8:22 AM
allantadams.bsky.social
A roundup of my Alnwick Castle sketches. Plenty to see and enjoy at this fine site. The bigger ones are the outer bailey, the state rooms from the outer bailey & a detail of the state rooms.

#AlnwickCastle
#drawing
Seven part composite of drawings of Alnwick Castle. Pen and watercolour sketch of part of a castle courtyard with a gatehouse to the left and several other towers joined by a high stone wall. Pen sketch of a castle composed of a cluster of towers. There is a gateway in the towers to the right. Pen sketch of towers in castle. There are sculpted figures standing on the parapet of the tower to the right of centre. Most of the windows have pointed arches.
October 31, 2025 at 5:34 PM