Alvin Cheng

20 years ago - alvin in the room When I am getting older, I have more and more photos which were taken long time ago, and they have become a kind of history. I am curious what was like 20 years ago. How much has the world changed?

When I am getting older, I have more and more photos which were taken long time ago, and they have become a kind of history.

I am curious what was like 20 years ago. How much has the world changed?

20 years ago: alvinintheroom.com/posts/20-yea...

Left Squarespace for Pika for simpler and easier blogging - alvin in the room I have been on Squarespace for 9 years (2016 to 2025) for my website and blogs. Over almost a decade, I have longed for easier publications like what social media is doing. Unfortunately, although Squ...

I have moved my website to Pika @goodenough.us : alvinintheroom.com/posts/left-s...

The very simple book review of Surrounded by Idiots - alvin in the room I noticed this book when I saw a passenger reading her book with a purple highlighter on the bus. The title successfully drew my attention, and thus I held the book on my library system, and started r...

I noticed this book when I saw a passenger reading her book with a purple highlighter on the bus. The title successfully drew my attention, and thus I held the book on my library system, and started reading in the last week of last month (September).

alvinintheroom.com/posts/the-ve...

Thornton Heath Library was built in 1914. Minimalist elements were added to improve accessibility and expand indoor area. Two urban sketches were done to showcase its current architecture with interior design.

My first visit was as early as in 2022 but I finally drew three years later.

On public toilet technologies — Alvin Cheng | Illustrator Public toilets are essential for almost everyone when going out. In recent years I can see different types of new technology introduced so as to enhance user experience. Here are the following two I w...

Public toilets are essential for almost everyone when going out. In recent years I can see different types of new technology introduced so as to enhance user experience. Here are the following two I want to talk about.

www.alvinintheroom.com/blog/2025/7/...

My second trip to Margate, and the first time to Broadstairs — Alvin Cheng | Illustrator I visited Margate in August last year for a day trip, and I knew it was a great place that I should revisit. This time I planned to stay overnight so that I could have more time to visit Broadstairs w...

I visited Margate in August last year for a day trip, and I knew it was a great place that I should revisit. This time I planned to stay overnight so that I could have more time to visit Broadstairs which is nearby as well!

alvinintheroom.com/blog/2025/7/...

Everforest

Urban Sketchers London today: St Pancras International and Coal Drops Yard.

POV Sunday Portrait Session every Sunday. The sketches were done at the end of the latest March and last August respectively.

I used to be an Evernote user until 2020 when they released an unusable update. I am only using an app which is preinstalled on all my devices: Apple Notes.

Why Apple Notes? alvinintheroom.com/blog/2025/4/...

Folkestone Harbour station, as well as historic branch lines in coastal Taiwan: www.alvinintheroom.com/blog/2025/2/...

...Starting this year (as of Feb 2025), I have made some trips so far, of them Ramsgate is the place I first visited.

My first trip to Ramsgate: www.alvinintheroom.com/blog/2025/2/...

When failure doesn't exist

...They waited for the next big wave and tried to surf. Sometimes they could stand up and surf for a few seconds until they fell into the water. That didn't stop them...

More: www.alvinintheroom.com/blog/2025/2/...

My sketches of Crystal Palace Subway

I have two related sketches now. One is the imaginative cross-section showing the whole picture of the subway. Another one was done during my second visit as the session was purposed for photography and sketching.

More: alvinintheroom.com/blog/2025/2/...

Everyone is indeed vulnerable. No one is perfect. Some people who look like so happy and lucky with a lot of friends and money are easily admired, especially with the existence of social media...

More: www.alvinintheroom.com/blog/2025/2/...

The two Folkestone's modern architectures — Grand Burstin Hotel and Shoreline

More: www.alvinintheroom.com/blog/2025/2/...

Among museums in London, Wellcome Collection provides unique insights for visitors. It’s science. It’s public health. It’s understanding about us. It’s society. It’s history. It’s human centred. It’s also art. Uniqueness comes from these integration.

More: www.alvinintheroom.com/blog/2025/01...

The illness did let me learn a lot, but before talking about the takeaway points, I am here to show my relationship with technology when I was ill. Those data allows me to understand how my health condition was going.

More: www.alvinintheroom.com/blog/2025/01...

Correction: Sunday not Saturday

Dinosaur in @cpdinosaurs.bsky.social is a good idea for illustrations and animations!

Southbank Portrait Session is held every Saturday, usually from 12:30 to 18:30 (it can be longer). Every model lasts for 15 minutes while the model is also a sketcher here. That means you can be a model if you like.

More: www.alvinintheroom.com/blog/2025/01...

Tower Bridge and HMS Belfast, the last Urban Sketchers London in 2024; compared to another sketch of the bridge two years ago (2022).

Crystal Palace Subway used to be a pedestrian connection between Crystal Palace and Crystal Palace High Level station since 1865, but the palace was destroyed by fire in 1936 and the station was closed in 1954, leaving the subway which has become Grade II* listed architecture.

This time I was invited by Mrs Bee Coffer to sketch their two coffee vans, respectively located in Isle of Dogs and ExCeL London. Feel free to visit their coffee shops to enjoy the sun.