Kingsway, London

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Kingsway, London is an original oil painting by Nick Grove.

Kingsway is a typically London subject that consistently draws my attention. More often than not, it’s the quality of light that determines whether a scene becomes a painting, and that was certainly the case here.
Walking towards Fleet Street and The Strand, I became aware of light striking Bush House and refracting back up Kingsway, bouncing off the pale stone and creating an unusual luminosity. I continued walking, adjusting my viewpoint until the composition resolved itself. The familiar coffee chains on the right provided a necessary counterweight to the light, while elements I return to often—telephone boxes, streetlamps, figures—anchored the scene in lived experience.
Midway through painting, a pair of coaches parked on the left, blocking much of the light. I had no choice but to include them; painting from life demands acceptance of change. You cannot confidently invent what you can no longer see. This painting reflects that reality—an honest response to a moment that refused to stay still.