The Shambles, York, England is a 16x20 oil painting that celebrates one of Britain’s most iconic medieval streets—an irresistible maze of timber-framed shops, overhanging gables, crooked charm, and old-world atmosphere. Painted from memory and reverence, this is one of my absolute favorite places in the world, and hands down one of my favorite pieces.
If you've ever walked through The Shambles, you know what I mean. It’s like stepping into a film set—but it’s not. It’s real. The cobblestones underfoot were once walked by the conspirators of the Gunpowder Plot. The architecture isn’t a reproduction. The shoppes really lean, the beams really creak, and the smells of chocolate, candles, and coffee drift through every turn.
Growing up in nearby Goole, York was my go-to escape. I’d wander the streets with a camera or sketchbook, soaking up the history and the strange, wonderful way the past stays alive here. There's even a Harry Potter-themed shop tucked along the row—because of course there is. You can practically feel the Diagon Alley energy radiating from the walls.
In this painting, I leaned into bold lines and exaggerated perspective to convey how the buildings seem to lean into one another—like they're whispering secrets. My post-impressionist brushwork adds texture and life to the old brick and timber, while color choices draw out the warmth and eccentricity of the street.
This piece isn’t just a scene—it’s a memory. A love letter to old places that still breathe.