29 Comments
User's avatar
Pat's avatar

I knew of Wainwright, but none of the fascinating details you share. The drawings, the lettering, all done by hand…incredible! My Lake District superhero is Beatrix Potter. A visit to her Hill Top house and farm is a must (if you’re traveling with me, that is).

Expand full comment
Amy Stewart's avatar

I’m going for sure!

Expand full comment
Terry Wagner's avatar

Who would not fall in love with the Fells?! I'm envious, in a good way, of your planned trip. Safe travels and many happy memories.

Wainwright's love and discipline for the Fells is such a great legacy. Thank you for sharing and I am sure he will be watching you on your travels.

Expand full comment
Amy Stewart's avatar

Thanks!

Expand full comment
Mat Poehler's avatar

It's an inspiration for my own writing career

Expand full comment
Amy Stewart's avatar

Oh good!

Expand full comment
Therese's avatar

Thank you for this!! I hope you have a wonderful time walking the Lake District. It sounds absolutely dreamy!

Expand full comment
Amy Stewart's avatar

I'm pretty excited!

Expand full comment
Lynnwood Hage's avatar

Wow wow wow!!

Expand full comment
Mary B's avatar

Amy, because of this fantastic post, I checked out two books from the Austin Public Library about Lake District homes, their history and architecture and the surrounding countryside. Thank you SO much! I'm excited for you for your trip. Eeeeeep! 😃

Expand full comment
Amy Stewart's avatar

oh yay! Enjoy!

Expand full comment
Megan A Arnold's avatar

Holy cow! Thanks for sharing. Have a fantastic trip.

Expand full comment
Sue Land's avatar

Amy you are living the life! Have fun!

Expand full comment
Devayani Khare's avatar

Thank you so much for writing this. So many fascinating details. I was gifted a copy of Wainwright's The Northern Fells by a colleague who knows about my passion for geography and art. I've never been to the UK, but I know Wainwright's guide will be the one I refer to if and when I do.

Expand full comment
Max AK's avatar

That is an incredible achievement. Thanks for documenting it. Amazing what impact such a love of place can have on creativity.

Expand full comment
Amy Stewart's avatar

exactly! He was so deeply immersed in PLACE

Expand full comment
Eden's avatar

Wow! Makes my use of AllTrails seem decidedly unromantic. Your English walking adventures sound dreamy - make sure you’ve read YOU ARE HERE (David Nicholls) a sweet and fluffy little novel set on the coast-to-coast trail in England.

Expand full comment
Amy Stewart's avatar

Oh that sounds great! I'll look for it.

Expand full comment
E Daggar Art's avatar

I began listening to the podcast Countrystride after you mentioned it in your earlier post— it’s wonderful, and I put it on when I’m drawing. Thanks so much! Very curious to check out his books.

Expand full comment
Amy Stewart's avatar

Yes, that's a very good podcast to draw to!

Expand full comment
Kelcey Ervick's avatar

Okay this is amazing! Thanks for the info and links!

Expand full comment
Amy Stewart's avatar

Thanks for reading!

Expand full comment
Carolyn Hagen's avatar

I loved reading about Alfred Wainwright…and now I’m headed down a rabbit hole to pore over his work and learn more.

Expand full comment
Amy Stewart's avatar

Oh yes, it's a fabulous rabbit hole.

Expand full comment
Mary B's avatar

Ohhhhhh! Thank you for this intro to Alfred Wainwright! A trip to the Lake District! How exciting, Amy! I love your method, too, of using pen for the darkest values (as a painting instructor used to say, "what is the shape of that volume?") and adding watercolor after, no contour drawing. I'm going to give that a go this weekend - thanks for the inspiration. What an amazing man - just love his sketches and all his artful touches in his books. What thoughtful attention to detail..

Have so much fun. What a thrill to walk where he walked and drew. "Walking the Wainwrights" sounds like a perfect summer holiday.

P.S. While reading your post I began an online search of all things Wainwright and found Butterfield's site right at the get go. Gorgeous. I also checked the Austin Public Library's holdings and they only offer the e-books; I'm going to request that they purchase the hard copies.

Expand full comment
Amy Stewart's avatar

Yes, it's hard to find hard copies in the US--I ordered a copy online and it shipped from the UK.

Expand full comment
Maureen C. Berry's avatar

SO special and fantastic! The font alone! Wow. Safe travels! Are you doing bird research?

Expand full comment
Amy Stewart's avatar

No bird research--since the book is about state birds, there's not much to do outside the country!

Expand full comment