![A pen and watercolour sketch showing gravestones in the churchyard.](https://i0.wp.com/margarethallfineart.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/20200818_145424.jpg?resize=525%2C373&ssl=1)
At last ! I managed to get out on a sketch crawl with some art buddies . In effect , we hadn’t seen each other since March . Because , naturally , our indoor sketch group had been closed down back at the beginning of Lockdown . So we sat in the churchyard on our own garden chairs , properly distanced , of course . It was bliss to sit together and to just sketch the surroundings . Honestly , I don’t know why it’s more enjoyable to sketch in a group. But it really is . Possibly because you can inspire each other to greater efforts. And , as you might imagine , some people have more confidence when they are not alone . Finally, there is the pleasure of looking at each others work , at the end of the session.
In the Churchyard at the Old Holy Trinity Church at Wentworth village , South Yorkshire
![A sunlit photo of the ruined building and the gravestones in the churchyard.](https://i0.wp.com/margarethallfineart.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/1280px-The_Old_Church_Wentworth_-_geograph.org_.uk_-_1820988.jpg?resize=525%2C394&ssl=1)
Well , you can see how beautiful the church is , with the glow of the mellowed sandstone in the sunshine But we were sitting in the churchyard a bit further back , looking out through the trees in the green shade .
![](https://i0.wp.com/margarethallfineart.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Holy-Trinity-Wentworth-Effigies.jpg?resize=525%2C350&ssl=1)
Unfortunately , the church was closed when we were there last week . But , I have been inside and it is very impressive, in a quiet , atmospheric way . Anyway, this is the tomb of two members of the Wentworth family which is inside the old church. Obviously , a very important local family- the family that the village is named after .You can find out more about the church here
Another Wentworth Tomb
![](https://i0.wp.com/margarethallfineart.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/IMG_20200111_130249_416.jpg?resize=525%2C380&ssl=1)
You can find this tomb sculpture in another , beautiful local church – All Saints at Silkstone village , a few miles away . This couple are Sir Thomas Wentworth and his wife .In order to complete this acrylic painting, I sketched this sculpture in the church first when on a sketchcrawl with some art buddies. And then I used some of my own photos as well for reference when I was painting this acrylic back home . After that , I did a watercolour sketch too , whilst sitting outside , in the churchyard. So , as you can see , I really do find these places very inspiring , especially when in good company ! This painting was on display in my first solo exhibition, back in January – see here . If you look closely , you can see Mike , the curator at Skelmanthorpe Gallery, hanging this picture on the wall !