Canal Towpath Tapestries

A view through the canal bridge, Marple

Regent's Canal towpath by Kingsland Basin, London, UK

The Regent’s Canal offers an oasis of calm in the capital. It was once London’s best kept secret, but now we’re spreading the word with walkers, boaters, commuters and everyone looking to escape the busy city streets.

The Delaware Canal runs 60 miles from Bristol to Easton, PA. The scene in the photo is where the canal runs through New Hope. It is actually the last towpath canal in America capable of being fully-watered and restored.

A bridge crossing the Crumlin branch of the Monmouthshire, Brecon and Abergavenny Canal near Newport, South Wales. This arm of the canal was opened in 1799, the nearby flight of fourteen locks being a major feat of engineering. Here the canal is at present unrestored and lies neglected in the undergrowth, wild flowers and grasses proliferating. But plans are in being to fully restore this section - rebuilding the locks is already in progress - and it will one day carry boats again.

Towpath Bridge Cathiron Warwickshire leading from Brinklow Marina to the Oxford Canal. Bridge 39 Canon Eos 600D

A digital painting from my original photograph of the scene above the lock at Aldermaston Wharf on the Kennet and Avon Canal (or Navigation) in Berkshire. A lovely tranquil scene - hard to imagine the industry here over 100 years ago! Then the whole area was busy with working canal canal boats loading and unloading their cargoes. Here too were the workshops and forges necessary for the running of the canal.

The towpath by the Kennet and Avon Canal leading eastwards into the town of Hungerford in West Berkshire, England. During the mid 1800s, this was a thriving industrial area lined with canalside industrial buildings. Boats would have been busy loading and unloading goods such as Bath stone for building the new mansions in London. The canal was constructed between 1794 and 1810 to link the Thames at Reading with Bristol, enabling goods to be transported smoothly from London to Bristol. Nikon D7100 Nikkor 18-200

Walking along th towpath and approaching the bridge over the Kennet and Avon Canal at Pewsey in Wiltshire, England. On a hot summer afternoon vnarrowboats are moored along the bank and an artist is painting a watercolour of the bridge. The Kennet and Avon Canal was constructed between 1794 and 1810, this section dating from 1810. The coming of the railway resulted init falling into disuse until the mid 1900s when it was restored. It was fully opened again in 1990. Nikon D7100 Nikkor 18-200

Graffiti street art along the Regent's canal near Camden Lock in London England United Kingdom photography by Andy Evans Photos

Graffiti street art along the Regent's canal near Camden Lock in London England United Kingdom photography by Andy Evans Photos

Graffiti street art along the Regent's canal near Camden Lock in London England United Kingdom photography by Andy Evans Photos

Graffiti street art along the Regent's canal near Camden Lock in London England United Kingdom photography by Andy Evans Photos

The towpath by the Kennet and Avon Canal leading eastwards into the town of Hungerford in West Berkshire, England. During the mid 1800s, this was a thriving industrial area lined with canalside industrial buildings. Boats would have been busy loading and unloading goods such as Bath stone for building the new mansions in London. The canal was constructed between 1794 and 1810 to link the Thames at Reading with Bristol, enabling goods to be transported smoothly from London to Bristol. Nikon D7100 Nikkor 18-200

Graffiti street art along the Regent's canal near Camden Lock in London England United Kingdom photography by Andy Evans Photos

Graffiti street art along the Regent's canal near Camden Lock in London England United Kingdom photography by Andy Evans Photos

Graffiti street art along the Regent's canal near Camden Lock in London England United Kingdom photography by Andy Evans Photos

Graffiti street art along the Regent's canal near Camden Lock in London England United Kingdom photography by Andy Evans Photos

The Delaware Canal runs through the quaint town of New Hope, PA. It is actually the last towpath canal in America capable of being fully-watered and restored. It is a great place to take a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and just stroll along the canal.

A walk along the towpath of the Kennet and Avon Canal at Newbury, Berkshire. It's early spring: the trees are just beginning to bud and the boats moored alonside the bank are getting ready for the summer. This section of the canal began its construction in 1718 under the supervision of engineer John Hore of Newbury and in 1724 the length between Reading and Newbury was opened. The entire canal from Reading to Bristol was completed in 1810 allowing goods to be transported from Bristol to London. Nikon D7100 Nikkor 18-200

An impresisionist style photograph of the Kennet and Avon Canal from the Station Road Footbridge at Hungerford in West Berkshire. This was captured just before Christmas on a frosty morning. Behind us is the Town Bridge and Hungerford Wharf. Ahead of us the waterway flows through Newbury before carrying on to Reading where it meets the Thames.

A scene just above Woolhampton in Berkshire on the the Kennet and Avon Canal. Narrow boats, several with log fires burning on board, moored above the lock. This was photographed on a sunny March afternoon. The Kennet and Avon or K&A was constructed in the first half of the 18th century to joinn London to Bristol. After falling into disuse from the end of the 19th century, it was restored in the late 1900s and is now busy with leisure boat traffic

An impressionistic image of the Kennet and Avon Canal as it approaches the town centre at Newbury in West Berkshire. This was once a centre of the woollen cloth trade and next to the canal bank here are the old weavers' cottages. Further on, through the swing bridge at West Mills the waterway glides through the middle of the town to head eastwards to Reading and the River Thames. The was built between 1794 and 1810 to enable goods to be smoothly transported between Bristol and London.

The gate of an old lock in the middle of a meadow near Newport, South Wales. This is part of the Crumlin arm of the Monmouthshire, Brecon and Abergavenny Canal. This arm of the canal was opened in 1799, the nearby flight of fourteen locks being a major feat of engineering. Here the canal is at present unrestored and lies neglected in the undergrowth, wild flowers and grasses proliferating. But plans are in being to fully restore this section and rebuilding the locks is already in progress. The image has been given a textured finish as a coloured pencil drawing.

The Brecon and Monmouthshire Canal as it makes its way to the town of Brecon. Here the waterway reaches its northern limit after winding through the Brecon Beacons, The canal was constructed to link Brecon with the docks at Newport, the narrow boats carrying coal, iron and limestone. A system of tramways linked the canal to the mines and quarries. It is currently navigable between Brecon and Pontymoile, with plans in place to extend this to Newport. This is a digital art image.

A roving trader skull and crossed narrow boats black logo especially for women who live and work on the canals in narrowboats.

Cromford Canal, Derbyshire, September 2021 Along the tow path of the Cromford Canal, near Matlock (Derbyshire, England). Date: 10th September 2021.

Just upstream of Aldermaston Lock is this footbridge which spans the Kennet and Avon Canal linking two areas of housing but there is no access to it from the towpath. Along this stretch canal boats are moored. Just behind us is Aldermaston Lock and Aldermaston Wharf, once a busy industrial area with canal boats loading and unloading cargoes of agricultural goods, coal, wood, groceries and building materials. Here too were the smiths' and carpenters' workshops. A digital pencil drawing from my original photograph.

A roving trader skull and crossed narrow boats white logo especially for women who live and work on the canals in narrowboats.

A black and white image of narrowboats moored for the winter on the banks of the Kennet and Avon Canal at Newbury, Berkshire. Here the waterway is flowing past the town towards Greenham and then on to Reading and the Thames. The canal boats once carried Bath stone for the fine buildings in London.

Looking upstream from the top gate of Kintbury Lock on the Kennet and Avon Canal in West Berkshire. The Lock is close to the centre of Kintbury village which lies between Newbury and Hungerford. Ahead of us the canal leads to Hungerford, Bath and Bristol while behind us are Newbury, Reading and the Thames. This image was captured on quite a busy autumn afternoon.

A narrow boat moored on the Kennet Navigation near Woolhampton in Berkshire This image was captured during a walk along the towpath in bright January sunshine. This section of the Kennet and Avon Canal is properly called the Kennet Navighation as it largely river made navigable. The Kennet and Avon was constructed between 1794 and 1810 to provide smooth transport between Bristol and London via Reading. It was fully restored from the mid 1900s, being fully reopened in 1990. Nikon D7100 Nikkor 18-200

A January scene along the Kennet and Avon Canal at Woolhampton in Berkshire. A lovely sunny but frosty winter's day with the bare trees reflected in the water. This section is properly known as the Kennet Navigation as here the River Kennet was made sutable for boats. The Kennet and Avon Canal, 87 miles long, was constructed between 1794 and 1810 to link the Thames and Avon rivers, providing a smooth transport link between Bristol and London via Reading. This image is produced as digital art. Nikon D7100 Nikkor 18-200

Narrowboats moored along the Kennet and Avon Canal near Woolhampton in West Berkshire. This was captured on a beautifully sunny - if cold - day in mid-January. This section of the waterway is properly called the Kennet Navigation as it is partly river which has been made navigable. The Kennet and Avon waterway, 87 miles long, was constructed between 1794 and 1810 to link the Thames and Avon rivers, providing a smooth transport link between Bristol and London via Reading.

An impressionist style image of narrowboats moored along the Kennet and Avon canal near Woolhampton in Berkshire. This was captured on a beautifully sunny - if cold - day in mid - January. This section of the waterway is the Kennet Navigation as it is partly river which has been made navigable. The Kennet and Avon Canal, 87 miles long, was constructed between 1794 and 1810 to link the Thames and Avon rivers, providing a smooth transport link between Bristol and London via Reading. Following resoration in the mid-1900s it was finally reopened in 1990. Nikon D7100 Nikkor 18-200

The Kennet and Avon Canal as it passes through the village of Pewsey in Wiltshire, England. This is the scene just above the bridge at Pewsey Wharf with narrow boats moored on the northern bank. This section of the canal was opened in 1810. The Kennet and Avon was designed to join Reading with Bristol and was constructed between 1794 and 1810. The coming of the Great Western Railway however spelt the end of the canal and it gradually fell into disuse.After restoration it was fully opened again in 1990. Nikon D7100 Nikkor 18-200