On a sunny Wednesday morning in southeast London, artist Lydia Wood stands poised next to a dumpster, setting up her easel outside The Lord Clyde, a historic pub in Southwark built in 1913. Rubbing sunscreen on her neck, she soon immerses herself in her craft, sketching for an hour with a focused determination. “Oh wow, that’s so good!” exclaims a passerby, Emily Finch, who pauses during her lunch break to admire Wood's work.
“Thank you,” replies Wood, 31, with modesty, acknowledging the daunting task ahead; she aims to document every pub in London through her art. Having completed approximately 300 sketches, a daunting 2,500 remain on her long list, according to data from CGA by NIQ, a research consultancy specializing in the hospitality sector.
Lydia, who describes herself as a “pub person,” chooses her subjects largely by instinct, wandering across the city to find her next inspiration. Her journey not only highlights the beauty and character of these establishments but also sheds light on their precarious future, as local pubs face increasing rents and changing societal dynamics.
Through her project, Wood invites the community to engage with a significant aspect of London’s nightlife, representing a tapestry of stories, memories, and cultures encapsulated within each pub's walls. As she navigates the streets of London, her artwork serves as both a tribute to these cherished gathering places and a call to recognize and preserve their place within the city’s heritage.
