Big Ben and Westminster Bridge at Sunset Paint by Numbers

Big Ben sunset paint by numbers kit: Westminster Bridge at dusk

The view follows the Thames at the end of the day. Elizabeth Tower stands on the left with its clock face set against a glowing sky, and the Houses of Parliament run along the riverbank, their stonework warmed by the low light. Sunset orange and deep pink spread across the sky, while golden yellow catches the edges of the clouds. The river below is blue and carries reflections of the buildings. Westminster Bridge fills the foreground with street lamps and small figures, a red double decker bus, a black taxi and a river boat on the water. The style is impressionist: brushwork is soft and detail is medium, so most of the work is blending neighbouring colours. We rate it intermediate, and it takes around 12 to 30 hours depending on the size you choose. If you like landmarks, the rest of our London paint by numbers range sits alongside it, and our sunset paint by numbers kits cover other evening skies.

Tips for painting this design

Start with the sky. It holds the largest areas of colour and sets the tone for the rest of the picture. Use the wide brush for the broad bands of orange and pink, then the medium brush where two colours meet and need blending. Keep the fine brush for the clock face, the bridge lamps and the windows along the Parliament frontage. Paint the river after the buildings, so you can judge the reflections against the sky. The dark purple shadows on the buildings are easy to overdo, so apply them thinly and build up in layers. The 36 and 48 colour options add shades for the sunset gradient and the stonework, which makes the blending smoother.

Sizes, colours and painting time

The design comes in 15x15 to 70x80 cm (12 sizes). You choose a 24, 36 or 48 colour kit, on rolled canvas, with or without a wooden frame to assemble. Allow around 12 to 30 h depending on the size.

What's in the kit

• Canvas:A printed linen canvas with numbered outlines of Elizabeth Tower, the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Bridge over the Thames.
• Paint:Numbered acrylic pots covering sunset orange, deep pink, golden yellow, dark purple and river blue, plus the greys and stone tones of the buildings.
• Brushes:Fine for the clock face and bridge lamps, medium for the buildings and traffic, wide for the sky and river.
• Guide:A paper guide with the finished picture and the colour chart, so you can check each numbered area.
• Optional:A wooden frame to assemble, so you can hang the picture as soon as the paint is dry.

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Without frame

The canvas arrives rolled in a tube. You paint it flat and frame it afterwards if you wish.

With frame

Wooden stretcher bars to assemble stretch the canvas. You paint on a taut surface and hang the picture on the wall.