Alexandra Palace Illustrated Series: A Cultural & Architectural Study of The People’s Palace

Alexandra Palace, known historically as The People’s Palace, has long existed as a site of gathering, performance, and transformation. This illustrated series documents the building not as a single image, but as a collection of architectural moment, each reflecting a different aspect of its history, structure, and atmosphere.

From glass-roofed interiors to open parkland views, the series explores how a single landmark can hold multiple identities across time, season, and use. Rather than presenting Alexandra Palace as a fixed subject, this collection treats it as a living archive of space.

About the Series
Alexandra Palace has shifted repeatedly between civic, cultural, and recreational roles since its opening in the 19th century. This series responds to that layered identity through observational illustration, focusing on geometry, light, and spatial rhythm rather than purely documentary representation. Together, the pieces form a cohesive study of one of London’s most distinctive cultural landmarks.

The Artworks:
Palm Court: The glass-roofed interior space defined by light, symmetry, and Victorian structure
Alexandra Palace Theatre: a study of the historic theatre interior and its layered architectural detailing
Palace from Afar: a distant perspective capturing the scale and silhouette of the building within its landscape
Summer Palace: an interpretation of the building in warm seasonal light, focusing on openness and leisure
Winter Palace: a busy day on the slopes. Winter sledging, snowballs and snowmen
The Grand Organ: a detailed architectural study of one of the Palace’s most intricate interior features
The BBC tower: Officially launching the world’s first regular public TV service
Boating Lake: Summer dotted with colourful pedalos
Rose Window: A mesmerising kaleidoscope

Process
Each illustration begins with direct observation of the site. Time spent within Alexandra Palace and its surrounding park informs initial studies, focusing on how people move through space, how architecture frames perspective, and how light interacts with structure. The final works remove unnecessary detail in favour of structural readability, allowing each space to be understood through form and proportion. Rather than documenting exact viewpoints, the series reconstructs architectural experience through interpretation.

The Range
This series was designed as a curated architectural collection celebrating the Palace. We produced retail ready Art Prints, Greeting Cards, Postcards, Tea Towels, Totes and Magnets for the Visitor Centre within the palace.

Commissioned Series Work
I create illustration-led series for brands, institutions, and cultural organisations looking to develop visual identities rooted in architecture and place. This includes site-specific collections, heritage-led interpretations and commercially adaptable artwork systems. If you are interested in commissioning a bespoke series or collaborative project, I would be happy to discuss your brief.