Learn Urban Sketching, Watercolour & Pen-and-Ink Drawing

My name is Mike Mills, and I’m an award-winning artist with over 25 years’ experience creating design-led gifts for major high-street retailers. A skilled graphic designer and illustrator, I now channel my artistic vision into capturing the soul of urban environments through watercolour and pen and ink.

Recording the details of an urban scene forces you to slow down and really see what’s in front of you — the shapes, colours, sounds, and stories that most people rush past. Sketching and painting pull you into the moment. You start to notice the play of light on brickwork, the character in every window and rooftop. It’s not just about drawing buildings; it’s about being present, connected, and alive to the world around you.

My work reflects this ethos by reimagining iconic landmarks, vibrant street scenes, and cherished spaces with a unique, expressive use of colour. By embracing the hues I feel rather than the ones I see, I invite viewers to experience familiar places in an entirely new light — where grass might be blue, trees purple, and the ordinary transformed into something magical.

Through an easy-to-follow, step-by-step four-stage painting process, I now invite others to learn how to paint with the same confidence and freedom.