In an era dominated by digital photography, a growing number of travelers are turning to a more tactile medium to document their journeys: urban sketching. This practice involves creating on-the-spot illustrations of urban landscapes, offering a slower, more immersive way to experience a place.
The roots of urban sketching can be traced back to the 19th-century en plein air (open-air) movement popularized by artists like Eugène Louis Boudin and Claude Monet. However, the contemporary urban sketching movement gained momentum in 2007 when journalist and illustrator Gabriel Campanario began sharing his location-based sketches online, encouraging others to do the same. This initiative led to the formation of Urban Sketchers, a global community that organizes sketching walks, meet-ups, and international trips for enthusiasts.
“Sketching on the go at different places around the globe opens your eyes to everything from the obvious to the invisible,” says Annette Morris, watercolour artist and education director at Urban Sketchers. “A sketch captures a memory of people and places in a way that a photograph never can.”
Since the pandemic, interest in urban sketching retreats has surged. Urban Sketchers has expanded to 477 cities in 70 countries, adding more than 60 new chapters since early 2023. These retreats offer participants the opportunity to slow down and engage deeply with their surroundings, fostering a mindful travel experience.
“While travelling, there’s a tendency to rush through bucket-list experiences,” notes Alex Hillkurtz, an urban sketcher based in Paris who leads painting workshops and retreats. “Urban sketching retreats allow us to step out of the hustle by creating something by hand. As we draw, we notice the beauty in the ordinary: the way sunlight warms a scene, the comings and goings of locals in a market, and the colours reflected in the water fountain.”
Participants of these retreats often find that the act of sketching enhances their appreciation of a destination’s nuances. By observing and illustrating the details of a city’s architecture, street life, and natural elements, travelers forge a deeper connection with the locale.
Urban sketching retreats cater to artists of all levels, providing guided sessions, personalized feedback, and the chance to connect with like-minded individuals in inspiring settings. Destinations such as Edinburgh, Scotland, and Dublin, Ireland, have become popular spots for these retreats, offering rich architectural and cultural landscapes for sketchers to explore.
As the trend continues to grow, urban sketching is redefining how travelers interact with the world, encouraging a return to slow observation and personal interpretation in an age of instant digital capture.
