Instagram story viewer> @loparkin> Posts

Lo Parkin

@loparkin

5.1K

followers

2019

following

Hand-drawn Illustration / 35mm ✏️ 📷
Brutalist Architecture & Urban landscapes
📍SE London
DM for print / commission enquiries

POSTS STORIES REELS

I haven't posted on my grid for nearly 2 years!
Figure it was about time I showed you guys something I've been working on over the past year or so - a series in homage to the Aylesbury Estate ✏️
View over Wendover from the top floor of Taplow.
I'll have this on show alongside afew other new pieces of artwork @midcentury_modern Sun 12th March
Prints available soon

#LoParkin #AylesburyEstate #brutalism #brutgroup #brutallondon #midcenturymodern #brutopolis #archidaily #architectureillustration #drawinglondon #midcentuaryarchitecture #towerblock #concretejungle #modernistarchitecture #brutalist #handdrawn #wendover #postwararchitecture #urbancommunity #rawconcrete #councilhousing #architectureporn #technicaldrawing #SOSBrutalism #highrise #brutalistillustration #Walworth #urbanplanning #betonbrut #concretelovers by @loparkin

I thought it was about time I reintroduced myself on here!

I'm Lo, an Artist and Illustrator orginally from Yorkshire that's been living and working in South East London for the past 17 years.

Since around 2012 I've steadily built an illustrated archive of brutalist architecture, documenting social housing 'streets in the sky' and London's urban landscape often capturing buildings before they are demolished.

I meticulously draw all my artwork by hand using a fine liner pen and black pencil crayon with each piece taking around 60 hours to complete.

I'm happiest when I'm with my dog by the sea, eating cheese or exploring concrete architecture!

I work freelance, take private commissions and I'm very proud to be a part of the independent community trading at various markets selling my artwork across the capital.

#LoParkin #brutalistillustration #handdrawn #brutallondon #londonillustrator #concretearchitecture #LondonBrutalist #londonmarkets #concreteeutopia #drawinglondon #dealpeir #urbanartist #independentbusiness #artistbio #brutal_architecture #architeturalillustration #artistportait #independentbusinessuk #shopsmall #architeturalillustrator #findingbrutalism #beautifulbrutalism #abouttheartist by @loparkin

Close up of Wendover - the second illustration in my Aylesbury series, big up the mad talented @damienlooney for the collaboration on this one.
This work is a response to fight against the gentrification and social cleansing of the estate.

#LoParkin #AylesburyEstate #Brutallondon #Wendover #handdrawn #midcenturyarchitecture #architectureillustration #towerblock #brutalist #midcenturymodern #SOSBrutalism #highrise #postwararchitecture #architectureporn #gentrification #concretejungle #councilhousing #drawinglondon #technicaldrawing #brutalistillustration #brutalism #brutgroup #urbanplanning #betonbrut #walworth #technicaldrawing #socialistarchitecture #brutal_architecture #fightforaylesbury #innercity by @loparkin

Battersea Power Station

My love of architecture came from exploring abandoned industrial buildings as a teenager.
I remember peaking through the fences trying to point my camera lens towards this very famous power station before it's renovation (slide 2) and it's probably been on my 'to draw list' for the longest time for any building!

Designed primarily by architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott (who is also known for the red telephone box and Tate Modern) Battersea Power Station was restored and transformed in 2022 by WilkinsonEyre and is Grade II*-listed.

Although Battersea Power Station is not brutalist it is such a landmark of industrial modernism it felt fitting for my archive - plus it's chimneys are made out of concrete!

#batterseapowerstation #londonillustration #industrialillustration #powerstation #chimneys by @loparkin

I have some news...
I FINALLY have an online shop!

Shop my prints via the link in my bio, UK postage only

#brutallondon #brutalistart #brutalistarchitecture #londonestates #londonillustration by @loparkin

Trellick Tower

It's not often I revisit a piece these days, but Trellick Tower is of such outstanding architectural significance (& I get loads of requests for another print!) a redraw felt appropriate - interesting to see how much my skills have developed since I last drew it around 6 years ago too.

The MVP of tower blocks every time I visit Ernő Goldfinger's Trellick Tower I am in awe of it's brutalist purity.

Flats all originally intended for social housing have steadily been sold over the years and these days one will set you back from £350,000 upto nearly £900,000.

I'll be dropping prints of this soon, please DM me if you would like to preorder.

#trellicktower #brutallondon #ernogoldfinger #brutalistarchitecture #brutalistart by @loparkin

Churchill Gardens

Designed to replace Pimlicos war-damaged slums Churchill Gardens was designed by young architects Philip Powell and Hidalgo Moya who had won a prestigious international architectural competition.

Churchill Gardens is known as the most ambitious council housing scheme of the 1940s with flats, houses, maisonettes and social amenities including shops, play areas, schools and a community centre incorporated within the scheme. Interestingly the estate was also originally pioneered to use waste heat that was piped across the river from Battersea Power Station.

I met a man who works in housing recently. He told me about how he helped a family of 3 who had been living in 1 room in a hotel for many years. The kids were pretty unhealthy and hadn't been able to have a proper home cooked meal for years due to their living circumstances. With his help they were finally given a flat in Churchill Gardens and what an amazing life changing move it was. He said getting them that flat was one of highlights of his career, I thought about them alot while drawing this piece - I hope they're happy and life's gotten easier now they have a real home.

#churchillgardens #socialhousing #brutallondon #powellandmoya #modernmovement by @loparkin

The Brunel Estate

I first saw the Brunel Estate when I was travelling to trade at Portabello road and became obsessed with the road facing ribbed concrete staircase I would see for just afew seconds driving past.

The Brunel is a sprawling 1970's estate which sits alongside the railway in Westbourne Park.
A mix of high-rise towers, slab blocks and lower terraces, the estate was designed by the City of Westminster Architects’ Department under F.G. West with landscape design by the famous Michael Brown Partnership.
One of the most interesting estates I've explored in a while, The Brunel showcases raw concrete textures with beautifully rhythmic balconies / walkways, innovative brick landscaping and a Grade II listed slide.

#BrunelEstate #brutallondon #brutal_architecture #londonestates #brutalistart by @loparkin

William Brown Court

Designed under Edward Hollamby for Lambeth council, William Brown Court was built in the late 1960s and is a lovely low-rise and medium-density block in West Norwood.

This artwork was created for a comission for a client who grew up there as child and and left London after a family bereavement. The family had many happy memories in the flat so for the artwork it was important to visualise it as it looked at the time they lived there. I drew the flat without its it's new extention, dividing the garden into 3 areas and adding the net curtains his mum had in every room.
A favourite comission of mine it was a pleasure to create such a meaningful piece for his family, scroll to see my research photos and the artwork development.

I have very limited spaces left for commissions this year so please get in touch soon to book your place if you are interested in commissioning some custom artwork.

#councilestate #modernistarchitecture #selondon
#socialhousinglondon #londonillustration by @loparkin

Herne Hill House

I took my dog for a walk in Brockwell park with a plan of getting some photos to work from of the view of the two towers you can't miss from the Lido as I guess this is how people recognise this spot best.
When I had a walk around the estate taking research photos I realised if I drew the blocks from the view set back it wouldn't show off the shape of the towers and their unusual bay windows.
After waiting around I managed to get into Park View after an Iceland delivery man was buzzed into the block, I jumped into the lift and went straight to the top floor where I got some nice photos to work from looking at it's neighbour - Herne Hill House from up high. This perspective shows off the tower blocks walk ways and shapes much better then anything I could have drawn from ground level.
I've had this print on my table at markets for a little while now and it's been lovely to hear how this piece has connected with people that have lived in this block and for others that it's brought memories back of living up high above the city.

#hernehillhouse #highrise #brutallondon #towerblock #brutalistillustration by @loparkin

Cover and 7 page feature in the latest issue of The Modernist magazine: Issue 57 - Public

I used to do alot of editorial illustration and there's something so special about seeing your artwork printed in a magazine - I was really excited when I found out my work was go be featured in such a gorgeous publication, but when I opened my post I had the best surprise and was honoured to see my Heygate illustration had also made the cover!

A fantastic edition and great read 'This issue explores the many forms that public resources and infrastructure assumed in the twentieth century' celebrating 'places that have worked hard, served well and stood up to public use'

Buy a copy online via @themodernist or if you're in Manchester pop in store.

#themodernist #loparkin #independentpublishing #modernistarchitecture #brutalistarchitecture by @loparkin

Beautiful prints of your favourite South London landmarks 🌇 ✨️

We spoke with artist and illustrator @loparkin who tells us about her hand-drawn illustrations, which can take up to 60 hours a go! The work focuses on social housing and urban landscapes, exploring themes such as gentrification and social cleansing ✏️

Lo is a familiar face at the Horniman, often selling prints at the Bandstand Terrace for @hornimanmarket!

Lo will also be at the special, bumper Sunday Market on the 28th June this weekend, selling her fantastic prints at the conservatory. Say hello! by @loparkin