When I think of Prague, I think of movement, light, and history colliding in the most dynamic way. I had the joy of spending three days there, and those days became a turning point in my creative journey. Every street, every tram, and every conversation seemed to ignite something in me. By the time I left, I carried hundreds of photographs, sore feet from walking miles, and a head buzzing with new ideas. Above all, I carried the beginnings of a series of paintings that continue to shape my work.
Arriving in Prague – A City of Stories
From the moment I arrived and checked into the beautiful Manes Boutique Hotel, I felt welcomed. The hotel itself became a haven after long days of walking, with its charm and comfort allowing me to reflect on what I had seen.
Stepping outside each morning was an adventure in itself. The city’s architecture seemed alive, shifting between Gothic spires, Baroque flourishes, and elegant Art Nouveau details. Everywhere I looked, there was something asking to be drawn, painted, or photographed. And, of course, the people of Prague — moving quickly through their daily lives, dodging trams, crossing cobbled squares — became as much a part of my compositions as the buildings themselves.
Walking Miles – and Finding Inspiration Everywhere
I walked for miles each day, often losing track of time and distance. My camera became an extension of my hand, snapping slow-shutter shots to capture blur, motion, and distortion.
At the same time, I found myself pausing to simply look. The way sunlight bounced off red roofs, or how rain slicked cobbles reflected the glow of tram lights, was as compelling to me as any grand landmark.
Dodging the Trams
The trams fascinated me most. Red and white, beautiful and iconic, they hurtled through the streets with little regard for pedestrians. They were both subjects and obstacles, forcing me to stay alert.
More than once, I had to leap out of the way while framing a shot, laughing with locals who were clearly more accustomed to their pace. This sense of danger, urgency, and movement later flowed directly into paintings such as Young Love in Prague, where a couple ride together on a tram while the city blurs around them.
The Museums – Mucha and Kampa
As an artist, I seek out museums wherever I go, and Prague did not disappoint.
The Mucha Museum
The Mucha Museum was a revelation. Alfons Mucha’s flowing lines, soft colour palettes, and Art Nouveau sensibilities reminded me of how important rhythm and design are in painting.
While walking through, I felt that same pull towards movement that often defines my own cityscapes. His ability to blend beauty with dynamism left me inspired to push my own marks further.
Museum Kampa
Later, visiting Museum Kampa gave me an entirely different experience. Its contemporary exhibitions felt bold and challenging, a reminder that art does not stand still.
As a result, I felt encouraged to experiment more with abstraction in my cityscapes — allowing light trails, blurred forms, and distorted lines to dominate in ways I had previously hesitated to embrace.
People, Places, and Moments
Art is never just about buildings or streets; it is also about the people who inhabit them. During my time in Prague, I met locals who shared their love of the city, guiding me toward less tourist-filled streets. Their pride was contagious, and it reminded me of how deeply a place can influence identity.
Old Town Square
In the Old Town Square, crowds gathered to watch the Astronomical Clock strike the hour. The buzz of voices, the shuffle of footsteps, and the anticipation reminded me that even the most photographed landmarks carry a living heartbeat.
That moment inspired Sightseeing in Prague, a painting where a horse-drawn carriage moves across the square with tourists, the Church of Our Lady in the background, and the Astronomical Clock glowing with history.
Everyday Encounters
Elsewhere, I found myself mesmerised by smaller, more personal scenes. A lone tourist in a red dress walking across the cobbles in Summer Stroll in Prague. The blur of cyclists passing through the heat of midday sun. Couples sitting together, hands intertwined, unaware of the city rushing by them.
Each of these moments gave me material not just for paintings, but for storytelling.
The Challenge of Capturing Motion
Painting Prague meant tackling new challenges. Unlike Birmingham, where my night photography thrives on rain, reflections, and neon light, Prague demanded something different. Its daytime energy, its colours, and its sunlight required me to shift.
Experimenting with Panning
To capture this, I experimented with panning shots during the day. By moving the camera with the subject, I could blur the background while keeping a figure sharper.
Later, in the studio, I translated this technique into brushwork. Soft, horizontal strokes carried movement, while sharper, brighter marks kept figures anchored. This process gave birth to Summer Stroll in Prague, where the blur of motion contrasts with the clarity of the figure in red.
Three Days, A Lifetime of Influence
Three days in Prague felt far too short, yet it gave me a lifetime of inspiration. The city challenged me, welcomed me, and pushed me to see differently.
Because of this, I carry its influence into every new painting, even those far removed from its streets.
Looking back, what stands out most is not just the architecture or the art, but the rhythm of the city itself. The trams, the footsteps, the conversations — they all became part of the soundtrack that shaped my work.
And in each of my Prague cityscapes, I hope to capture not only what I saw, but also what I felt: a mix of awe, movement, and connection.
Reflections on Prague at Night – New Work in Progress
Although much of my Prague series focuses on daytime energy, I could not resist the pull of the city at night. Yes, we did get a few showers, and those rainy evenings gave me the chance to capture what I love most — reflections.
The wet cobbles shimmered with neon colours, while tram lights stretched into glowing ribbons across the streets. At the same time, the river played its own role, bouncing back light from bridges, lamps, and moving boats. Those surfaces became living canvases, full of motion and atmosphere.
Back in my studio, these images are still working their way into new paintings. Right now, I am layering glazes and testing compositions that bring together the rhythm of trams, the shimmer of rain, and the dancing reflections on the Vltava River. These works are in progress, evolving slowly, but I know they will become some of my most atmospheric Prague paintings yet.
So, watch this space. More Prague cityscapes are on the way — further reflections of a city that continues to inspire me long after I left its streets.
