Landmarks
Trevi Fountain, Rome
The Trevi Fountain is one of Rome’s most spectacular and instantly recognisable landmarks.
Dominated by the imposing figure of Neptune, the fountain is a magnificent celebration of Baroque architecture, sculpture and water.
My detailed pen and ink illustration captures the grandeur and intricate detail of this iconic Roman masterpiece, from the dramatic sculptures and cascading water to the ornate façade behind it.
The Colosseum, Rome
The Colosseum stands as one of the most powerful surviving reminders of Ancient Rome’s vast empire.
Completed around AD 80 under Emperor Titus, this enormous amphitheatre could hold tens of thousands of spectators who gathered to witness gladiatorial contests, public spectacles and dramatic re-enactments.
Built on a scale never before attempted, the Colosseum represented Roman engineering brilliance, and the empire’s appetite for grandeur and display.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy
Originally intended as the bell tower for Pisa Cathedral, the Leaning Tower became famous almost by accident.
Construction began in 1173, but the soft ground beneath the foundations soon caused the structure to tilt. Work paused for decades due to wars and political unrest, and by the time construction resumed, the lean had become impossible to ignore.
Rather than abandoning the project, builders adapted their designs as they continued upward, creating one of the world’s most charming architectural imperfections.
Taj Mahal, India
The Taj Mahal was built not as a palace, but as an act of mourning.
Commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan after the death of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, the monument was designed as a mausoleum of extraordinary beauty and balance.
Crafted from luminous white marble and decorated with intricate inlaid stonework and calligraphy, the Taj Mahal blends Persian, Islamic and Indian architectural traditions into a masterpiece of symmetry and proportion.
Eiffel Tower, Paris
When the Eiffel Tower was unveiled at the 1889 World’s Fair in Paris, many artists and intellectuals considered it an eyesore, an iron skeleton looming awkwardly above the city’s classical beauty.
Designed by engineer Gustave Eiffel, the tower was intended as a temporary demonstration of modern engineering and industrial confidence. Yet over time, the structure transformed from controversial curiosity into perhaps the most recognisable landmark in the world.
Big Ben, London
Rising above the Palace of Westminster, the Elizabeth Tower, more affectionately known around the world as “Big Ben”, has become one of the defining symbols of Britain itself.
Completed in 1859 as part of the rebuilding of Parliament after a devastating fire, the tower was designed by Augustus Pugin in the richly decorative Gothic Revival style.
Although the name technically belongs to the great bell housed within the tower, generations have come to use “Big Ben” for the entire structure, its clock faces marking the rhythm of London life for over 160 years.
Tower Bridge, London
Completed in 1894, Tower Bridge was built during a period when London was expanding rapidly eastward and needed a new crossing over the River Thames without disrupting busy river traffic.
Combining a bascule drawbridge with suspension elements, the structure was an engineering marvel of the Victorian age. Its Gothic-style towers were deliberately designed to complement the nearby Tower of London, blending medieval inspiration with industrial innovation.
Statue of Liberty, New York
Standing at the entrance to New York Harbour, the Statue of Liberty has greeted generations arriving in America with the promise of hope and opportunity.
Gifted by France to the United States in 1886, the statue was designed by sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, while its internal iron framework was engineered by Gustave Eiffel before his famous Paris tower was built.
Officially titled Liberty Enlightening the World, the monument commemorated ideals of freedom, democracy and friendship between nations.
The Great Wall of China
Stretching across mountains, deserts and grasslands, the Great Wall of China is less a single wall and more a vast network of fortifications built and rebuilt across centuries.
Although sections date back over 2,000 years, much of the wall seen today was constructed during the Ming Dynasty to defend China’s northern borders from invasion.
Its watchtowers and winding pathways follow the landscape like a dragon carved into the spine of the mountains.