Penarth is an unusually convenient place to draw. The sea, formal gardens, old trees, Victorian streets, and working marina are all close together, and there is nearly always a café within retreating distance. If you are looking for quiet, creative things to do in Penarth, a sketchbook can turn a short walk into a full afternoon.
I have drawn this town for years and run Espresso Sketches Penarth, a free and informal local sketching group. These are the places I return to, plus the practical details that matter once you have actually opened the sketchbook: what to draw, where to sit, and where to go when the weather changes its mind.
1. The Italian Gardens
What to draw: The palms against the sea, clipped yews, flower beds, and stone steps make ready-made compositions. The garden is small enough to look carefully without spending half the session searching for a subject.
Where to sit: Try a bench facing the central beds, or sit near the upper path and use the steps to lead the eye towards the water. Rain plan: move to one of the cafés on the Esplanade below; you can continue with a cup, the window, or the view back towards the pier.
See more sketches and seasonal views of the Italian Gardens.
2. The Esplanade and Penarth Pier
What to draw: The pavilion, lamps, railings, people on the promenade, swimmers, or just the long dark line of the pier against the water. If the architecture feels complicated, choose one section instead of trying to fit the whole pier onto the page.
Where to sit: The promenade benches give a side view, while the beach makes the pier feel taller and more dramatic. Check the tide before settling low down. Rain plan: the Pavilion or an Esplanade café, where wet windows and coats can become the next subject.
Read the full guide to Penarth Esplanade and the Pier.
3. Alexandra Park
What to draw: Old trees, the pond, sloping paths, topiary, the bandstand, and blossom in spring. For a tree study, begin with the overall canopy and the darkest gaps rather than negotiating with every leaf.
Where to sit: There are benches beside the main paths and near the pond; the station-side path is better if you want a wilder, wooded view. Rain plan: walk up into the town centre and finish the page in a café while the shapes are still fresh in your memory.
Explore Alexandra Park through my photographs and drawings.
4. Victoria Square and All Saints Church
What to draw: Mature trees, long summer grass, paths, and All Saints Church appearing between branches. Treat the church as one simple shape behind the trees and the drawing becomes an exercise in depth, not an architectural examination.
Where to sit: A folding stool works well under the trees, or choose the grass near a path for a view towards the church. Rain plan: retreat towards the town centre; even a quick photograph is enough to add colour notes over coffee.
See the full post about Victoria Square and All Saints Church.
5. Penarth Head
What to draw: The wide view over Cardiff Bay, the marina, distant city shapes, and the curve of the coast. This is a good place for quick plein air colour notes: separate the view into sky, distant land, water, and one strong foreground shape.
Where to sit: Choose a safe place well back from the cliff edge and use a small sketchbook in windy weather. Do not block the path or approach unstable edges. Rain plan: walk down towards the marina or back into town; exposed viewpoints are much better admired than defended during heavy rain.
6. The beach below the pier
What to draw: Pebbles, layered cliffs, pools of reflected sky, the brown-grey water of the Bristol Channel, and the iron columns under the pier. At low tide, the repeated supports make a strong tonal study; a single stone or line of seaweed is enough for a smaller page.
Where to sit: Pick a stable patch of stones away from the cliff and keep the incoming tide in view. Rain plan: return to the Esplanade rather than sheltering beneath cliffs or the pier; the nearest café table is safer and more comfortable.
See how repeated visits to the beach and pier became paintings.
7. Penarth Marina
What to draw: Boats, masts, ropes, reflections, pontoons, and the geometry of buildings beside the water. Do not count every mast. Draw a few important verticals, then suggest the rest as a loose rhythm.
Where to sit: Use public seating along the waterside and choose a position that keeps working areas and access routes clear. Rain plan: find a nearby café or make tiny studies from a sheltered window; rain often improves the reflections even while it ruins everything else.
8. Glebe Street, Windsor Road, and the town centre
What to draw: Shopfronts, bay windows, signs, rooflines, people waiting at crossings, and the Washington Building. Urban sketching in Penarth does not require a grand landmark: one doorway, awning, or complicated chimney can hold a whole page.
Where to sit: Look for a public bench or draw standing with a small book, staying out of doorways and the pavement flow. Rain plan: choose a window seat in one of the town-centre cafés and draw the street through the glass.
9. When it is properly raining: draw in a café
What to draw: Cups, spoons, cakes, plants, coats on chairs, the window, and the gestures of other customers. People may remain still for almost seven seconds, so aim for a general pose rather than a detailed portrait.
Where to sit: A small side table is ideal; keep materials compact, buy something, and avoid occupying the largest table at the busiest time. Rain plan: this is the rain plan. Add notes to an outdoor sketch, draw from memory, or wait until Wales has finished expressing itself.
What to bring for sketching in Penarth
You do not need a portable version of the entire studio. A small sketchbook, pencil or pen, a few colours, clips for the pages, and something waterproof are enough. A folding stool or sit mat is useful in the parks and on the seafront.
For a fuller but still sensible list, see What to Bring to an Outdoor Sketching Meetup in Penarth.
If you would rather not draw alone, join Espresso Sketches Penarth. The meetups are free, relaxed, and open to beginners as well as experienced artists; the next place and time are announced on Instagram.
Many of these familiar places also become finished paintings and drawings. You can browse my available work, or simply take your own sketchbook for a walk and see which view makes you stop.