Stockport Community Cycling Club members may remember that at the Annual Club Lunch 2018 we clubbed together and purchased for Jim an Artist on a Bike creative workshop session.

Moreover, Andy S’s colleagues had presented him with a place on an Artist on a Bike creative workshop session as a leaving present. Sarah enjoys art and crafts anyway, so was also interested, and I, while not considering myself having any artistic skill, was happy to join in. I am glad I did! And Kathy, a friend Jim and Andy know from the local bike scene, came along too.

So, last Sunday, it was a fine sunny day as we headed over to Hoole, on the outskirts of Chester, and to the home of Christine Evans – the Artist on a Bike.

The aim was in the morning to go on a bike ride, and along the way think about the things we noticed and found interesting. This might be a sign, or a name, or sounds, smells, textures, or colours. It could be anything really. We were asked to photograph these moments as a sort of reminder for later. There are therefore lots of arty photos in this blog post!

Leaving Hoole we arrived at the village of Christleton.

Opposite Christleton Hall, there is a pond, and the friendly nature of the ducks and ducklings piqued our interest.

A little further on we crossed the Shropshire Union canal at Waverton and stopped on Egg bridge to take a few more photos.

Sarah really liked the shape of this tree nearby.

We next made our way along Long Lane, stopping to photograph flowers that caught our eye

Along here we were following NCN Route 45. This also formed part of the Cheshire Cycleway, otherwise known as local route 70.

We left the cycle network routes at Huxley and turned back towards Hoole.

At Southley Brook, there is a picturesque group of farmhouses.

The pond is home to a bevy of black swans.

Further along, we turned on to Platts Lane.

There was an interesting herd of Charolais cattle. We took lots of photos of these!

Continuing up the lane and we reached Hockenhull Platts. Here there are three  Roman bridges or “packhorse bridges”. The stone bridges we crossed probably date back to around 1470 and replaced the original Roman wooden ones.

There were lots and lots of damselflies.

Sarah also liked the shape of these trees!

Sadly, damselflies keep moving and are difficult to photograph. This was as good as we could capture …

Finally, we returned back through Christleton.

We arrived back in Hoole and enjoyed an excellent lunch.

The afternoon session was then devoted to creating a journal. In this, we recorded a memory or memories of our cycle ride. Unlike this blog post, the aim wasn’t to record everything that had happened, rather something that would stimulate a memory at some point in the future. We were given free-range Christine’s studio and art materials. We could paint (as Sarah did), use text, use collage (as I did), or … whatever we wanted really. We could use whatever medium appealed. There was no right or wrong about the way we recorded the memory in our journal.

I was pleasantly surprised at the ease with which I was able to think of ideas and ways to represent my memories (once I had finally discovered the first one!). It was a truly enjoyable experience.

You can view our Artist on a Bike route below. I can heartily recommend the Artist on a Bike workshops. Whether you consider yourself to be artistic or not, it really does not matter, you are guaranteed a great day. So, go on, book yourself on one of Christine’s sessions, you will not be disappointed.