Sketching in the City 2026

Join Rachel Mulligan to sketch stained glass around the City of London in venues specially selected by Caroline Swash.

The City of London is known for outstanding post-war glass that replaced windows that were bomb-damaged during the Blitz. Caroline Swash FMGP has researched the area extensively. She has a long and distinguished career as a third-generation stained glass artist, educator and author.

Rachel Mulligan FMGP can regularly be seen with a sketchbook and watercolours in hand as she visually records windows. She will share tips and encouragement for this most absorbing way of studying our historic stained glass heritage. 

We will start at Grays Inn Chapel to sketch a Christopher Whall window (11am-12noon). We will revisit St Etheldreda (which we loved last year) to see the stunning Eddy Nuttgens scheme (12-1pm). We will fit in a brief stop at St Nicolas Cole Abbey to see the Keith New windows (1-2pm). Lunch will be at St Mary Aldermary, where there is a cafe (2-3pm). Then on to our last site, St Mary le Bow, to sketch the remarkable John Hayward glass (3-4pm). We will then adjourn to Williamsons Tavern to review our sketches. All timings are approximate as we will be walking between sites.

The visits will be at a leisurely pace with time in each venue to sketch. It is an informal and friendly event designed to help build the stained glass community. Bring your own sketching materials and lunch. We look forward to sharing sketches, chat and stained glass enthusiasm.

Tickets are £17 for members (£20 non-members). Meet 11am on Friday 17 July at Grays Inn Chapel (nearest station Chancery Lane).

Image: Rebecca Bingham’s sketchbook from the Sketching in the City 2025 event