On love and paper: How to gift art that matters.
One of the best things about painting architecture is the stories the lines capture, sometimes that is in the history of the building but others it’s the future of the artwork. Many commissions have beautiful tales behind them celebrating life’s most precious moments. Love is a powerful thing, to play a part in that story by drawing is something I am always grateful for. So when should you gift art to your significant other?
Well there isn’t a wrong time but here are a few milestones where something unique really makes a difference:
1st "Paper” Anniversary: A fine art watercolour print on 300gsm archival cotton rag paper is meant for this one. What could be a sweeter use of paper!
5th “Wood” Anniversary: Technically paper is wood, so that's a win but adding a wooden frame will really make a painting into a future family heirloom.
10th ‘Aluminium’ Anniversary: Once a precious metal itself now we find it everywhere, that can make presents difficult (an aluminium can of wine isn’t quite the love symbol it should be!). However a lovely fact is aluminium is used in watercolour paint, aluminium trihydroxide acts as a brightener and makes the painting shine like your lover's eyes (cheesy sayings like that are free at Freehandlines!)
25th “Silver” Anniversary: A silver frame may be pushing the boundaries of love but silver leaf is a great way to ‘antique’ a painting surround. A silver edge to a painting mount can be dramatic and catch the light from different angles.
Paintings of important places make for the most endearing and lasting gifts. It’s not just anniversaries, life’s milestones make for perfect times to give art. Wedding day favours, first homes or graduations. Places shape us and memories are captured so much better in art rather than in photographs. So think about the places which matter to you, search my massive catalogue of paintings (perhaps the largest of any watercolourist) or commission a
piece which is important to this you love.
Some romantic stories from my Gallery (to get you in the mood).
1. St Marylebone Parish Church, London (The Great Victorian Love Story)
The Story: In 1846, poets Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett were secretly married here. Barrett lived under the watchful eye of an overbearing father who forbade his children from marrying. After a passionate, clandestine correspondence, Browning eloped with Elizabeth to Italy, making this church the sacred starting point of one of history’s greatest literary romances. Love begets love.
Product Link: St Marylebone Parish Church Drawing
2. Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire (The Secret Labyrinth of Rosamund’s Well)
The Story: Long before the grand Baroque terraces were built, 12th-century King Henry II constructed a secret, winding labyrinth on these grounds to shelter his mistress, Rosamund Clifford. Today, Rosamund’s Well remains on the estate as a lasting monument to this medieval love affair. I wonder if she is still trying to find her way out?
Product Link: Blenheim Palace Water Terraces Print
3. St Bride’s Church, Fleet Street, London (The Original Wedding Cake Spire)
The Story: Sir Christopher Wren’s 226-foot tiered spire is not only an engineering triumph, but it is also widely celebrated as the direct visual inspiration for the traditional tiered wedding cake. A local baker in the 18th century modelled his elaborate wedding confections on Wren's octagonal stone tiers. So most weddings have a model of this building!
Product Link: St Bride's Church Fleet Street Illustration
4. Bow Bridge, Central Park, New York (The Sanctuary for Lovers)
The Story: Spanning 87 feet across the Lake, this graceful 1859 Victorian cast-iron bridge is one of the world's most popular proposal spots. Park lore whispers of a hidden chamber beneath the masonry called the "Bow Bridge Vault” which historically served as a private sanctuary for 19th-century lovers escaping the city crowds. Rent by the hour?
Product Link: Bow Bridge Central Park New York Watercolour
5. The Gun, Docklands, London (Lord Nelson’s Riverside Rendezvous)
The Story: Dating to the early 18th century, this historic Grade II-listed pub on the Thames was a favourite haunt of Lord Horatio Nelson, who used its secluded, river-facing rooms for secret meetings with his beloved Lady Emma Hamilton. A real beauty: You can see her painting at Kenwood House in Hampstead.
Product Link: The Gun Pub Docklands Print
6. The Lampposts of Westminster, London (The Chanel Urban Legend)
The Story: A famous London legend claims that during their 1930s love affair, the Duke of Westminster ordered the interlocking "CC" logo stamped onto every cast-iron lamppost in Westminster as a grand, permanent romantic gesture to Coco Chanel. (While civic records show the 'W' stands for Westminster and 'CC' for the slightly less romantic 'City Council’, the romantic myth endures!)
Product Link: Westminster Chanel Lampposts Watercolour
7. Cliveden House, Buckinghamshire (A Grand Gift on the Thames)
The Story: The original 1666 estate on this ridge was constructed by the 2nd Duke of Buckingham as a lavish, extravagant gift for his mistress, the Countess of Shrewsbury. Today, its Italianate architecture and 376 acres of gardens stand as one of the UK's premier luxury wedding destinations. So much love!
Product Link: Cliveden House Buckinghamshire Painting
8. The Balmoral Clock Tower, Edinburgh
The Story: Dominating the Edinburgh skyline, the clock tower of The Balmoral Hotel has operated under a unique tradition for generations specifically for lovers. Its clock is deliberately set three minutes fast to give departing travellers and lovers extra time to share a final goodbye before catching their trains at nearby Waverley Station. I wonder how they determined 3 minutes?
Product Link: The Balmoral Clock Tower Edinburgh Art Print
9. The Queen’s House, Greenwich, London
The Story: Designed by Inigo Jones as England's first classical building, this royal residence holds a delightfully human origin story. Legend says King James I commissioned the palace as an apology gift to his wife, Queen Anne of Denmark, after he lost his temper and swore in front of her when she accidentally shot his favourite hunting dog. So she shot his dog and got an apology and a mansion, not bad eh?
Product Link: The Queen's House Greenwich London Print
10. Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, Stratford-upon-Avon
The Story: This 15th-century thatched farmhouse in Shottery was the childhood home of Anne Hathaway. Inside sits the original wooden "courting settle" bench, where a young William Shakespeare sat while courting Anne before their marriage in 1582. There is nothing more lovely than a writer of love in love (wasn’t that a film?)
Product Link: Anne Hathaway's Cottage Stratford-upon-Avon Painting
11. The Red Rose Rent (Seething Lane, City of London)
The Story: In 1381, while knight Sir Robert Knollys was away at war, his wife Constance bought property across Seething Lane to use as a garden. To avoid getting her dress muddy, she constructed a footbridge across the public road. The City of London penalised the family by charging a nominal annual rent: one red rose, plucked from the garden and delivered on a velvet cushion to the Lord Mayor every June 24th—a tradition that continues to this day. Cheap and lovely, just like yours truly!
Product Link: Merchant Taylors' Hall City of London Illustration
Hope this helps spread some love. If you have a special person or a special place get in touch. I am always looking for more wonderful places to paint.
About the Artist Christian Coop, MSAI, is an architect and artist documenting the UK’s built heritage through one of the largest contemporary collections of architectural watercolours. With 30 years of experience an architect and a Design Director at leading global firms, his work has been featured by CNN, the BBC, and the RIBA Journal. He is currently an Associate Partner and Design Director at HTA.
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