 'Moon and frozen crag, Beinn an Dothaidh' |
‘Moon and frozen crag, Beinn an Dothaidh’, Acrylic & Pastel, 40 x 91 cm
A few years ago during a particularly cold period in February, Anita and I, along with our more experienced hill walking / climbing friend Guy, went up to Bridge of Orchy to climb Beinn an Dothaidh. This is one of the big hills that rise above Bridge of Orchy and Loch Tulla. The weather was perfect, with clear skies and freezing conditions right down to road level, with snow above about 600m. The plan was very simple, to walk Beinn an Dothaidh by its traditional route …and return the same way. We put the crampons on quite quickly as there was masses of ice and as we moved higher into the corrie between Beinn an Dothaidh and Beinn Dorain, conditions under foot became more difficult. It was slow work reaching the beallach but the views of the snow and ice covered hills was well worth all the effort. In theory, the route from the beallach up to the summit of Beinn an Dothaidh at just over 1000m is a simple one but it involves traversing a steep slope. This slope was covered in fairly thick snow and was catching the full glow of the early afternoon sun. As we started to move onto it, Guy spotted several sun wheels – natural snow balls that indicate instability in the snow …and potential avalanche risk. We stopped, and looking at the lengthy traverse across the slope, decided that it would be prudent to turn back at this point. It didn’t really matter, we’d had a great time and were surrounded by snow and ice and rock …quite amazing. I’m very slow when descending hills and so by the time we were well back down the corrie, the light was starting to fade and the temperature was plummeting again. We’d been concentrating so hard on getting down safely that we hadn’t noticed a full moon rising behind us. When we stopped for a breather and looked back, the moon appeared to be resting on the very edge of the huge ice covered cliffs of Beinn an Dothaidh. This painting is based on that very cold late February afternoon. It’s just an impression, nothing more and some people see it as the sea …but to me it’ll always bring back the memory of a really great winter day in the Scottish Highlands. Work presently being exhibited at: Atholl Gallery |
Archive for the ‘Artwork of the Week’ Category
Work of the Week: ‘Moon and frozen crag, Beinn an Dothaidh’
Work of the Week: ‘Above Drumochter’
'Above Drumochter'
‘Above Drumochter’, Acrylic & Pastel, 2009, 30 x 30 cm
Based on our day walking in the Drumochter Hills, this painting is quite an important piece. One of the first small Dalwhinnie paintings that managed to keep the rather loose nature of its bigger cousins. The paint is put down in a variety of ways, using different brushes and brush sizes. The pastel marks are quite vigorous and less tentative than in many of my small paintings. I actually painted three versions of this piece, developing the composition with each one. I plan to produce a larger version – perhaps 80 x 80 cm, hopefully creating a more abstract piece still and one using much thicker paint. Watch this space!
Work of the Week: ‘Glen Etive, winter afternoon’
'Glen Etive, winter afternoon'
‘Glen Etive, winter afternoon, Acrylic & Pastel, 2010, 60 x 30 cm
This is one of a series of paintings that are all based on one brief time a few years ago. We’d been returning through Glen Coe on a rather heavy winter’s afternoon and as we drove by the end of Glen Etive we saw this wonderful scene. The summits were snow topped with odd patches of snow right down to road level in places. The clouds were swirling and breaking around and over the hills with the late afternoon light making everything very atmospheric.
We stopped the car and just sat and watched the changing and very dramatic scene. Rain and sleet showers moved up the glen towards us very rapidly, carried along a strong buffeting wind. Before very long the last light had faded and it was time to move on, but it made a great impression on me and I’ll no doubt do further pictures based on this experience. This painting is currently being exhibited with Scotlandart.com
Work of the Week: ‘Late December afternoon, above Wanlockhead’
'Late December afternoon, above Wanlockhead', Acrylic & Pastel, 2007, 102 x 200 cm
‘Late December afternoon, above Wanlockhead’, Acrylic & Pastel, 2007, 102 x 200 cm
With my trip to Germany fast approaching, I’m starting to look forward to doing some big paintings again. For the last few months I’ve mainly been working on smaller pieces and although this has been very enjoyable I could do with stretching my arms again.
This painting was done back in 2007 as a commission for a client. It was certainly the largest painting I’d tackled and it gave me the opportunity to see if the ‘acrylic & pastel would work on a larger scale. The painting was to be hung on a large stairwell wall and so needed to work from both close up and further away, from below and from above too. The biggest problem I had with it was the composition and this changed as the painting progressed. The final piece was fairly close to my original ideas but the final composition was adjusted right up to the very end …making big changes to a painting in this stage was kind of scary!
On a practical level I had to use step ladders to paint the whole of the upper section of the painting. I had the board attached to the wall with its base about 50 cm off the ground – this making the top of the painting well above my head and I was grateful for the high ceilings in my studio. It took a bit of time to adjust to painting from step ladders and I did worry that I’d forget I was up there and step back for a quick look …but thankfully there were no such incidents. The only real problem with the step ladders …was climbing them with stiff legs after a long day out on the hill….I tended to work on the lower half of the painting for a couple of days when this happened!
The painting itself is based on a December day when I’d been out walking with our local mountaineering club Air na Creagan. The late afternoon sun on the wild hills created wonderful colours and textures and seemed perfect for a painting.
Work of the Week: ‘Winter morning, above Glen Shee’
'Winter morning, above Glen Shee'
‘Winter morning, above Glen Shee’
A very early start from Irvine a few years ago, found us in Glen Shee on a cold December morning. The plan was to walk three Munros; The Cairnwell, Carn Aosda & Carn a’ Gheoidh. As anyone who goes skiing in Glen Shee will know, the first two are really just part of the ski area and only a relatively short walk from the top of the pass. The latter though is a little more off the beaten track being as it is out to the west somewhat.
The plan was to walk up to The Cairnwell, then out and over to Carn a’ Gheoidh. We’d then retrace out steps to the edge of the ski area and finally head up to Carn Aosda. As we climbed up the slopes towards the summit of the Cairnwell, everything looked stunning. Early morning mists clearing from the glen and sun picking up the colours of the snow and grass.
This painting (finished recently) is one of several I’ve done based on this early morning scene. But things never quite stay the same and within half hour of leaving The Cairnwell, thick low cloud had enveloped us. The route out to our second hill was fairly straight forward but the snow cover was complete here and the mist thick enough to make everything rather white! As we reached the second summit though, the sun broke through above our heads and we found ourselves atop a sea of bright white mist …then everything was gone again. The walk back should have been fairly simple but in ever thickening mist and fading afternoon light we suddenly found ourselves …well, if not lost, then definitely ‘geographically embarrassed’!
It suddenly turned into a rather challenging walk back, stopping constantly to check the map, compass and GPS. When we finally got back to the point above the ski centre it was too late to head for the final hill …we were just relieved to hear the sound of the ski tow generator grumbling in the glen below. A memorable day although after the first hour we saw next to nothing.
This painting is to be exhibited with Scotlandart.com shortly.
Posted in Artwork of the Week 
Tags: Carn Aosda & Carn a’ Gheoidh, Glen Shee, munros, The Cairnwell 
No Comments »Work of the Week: ‘After the storm, the northern shores of Loch Lomond’
'After the storm - the northern shores of Loch Lomond '
‘After the storm, the northern shores of Loch Lomond’, Acrylic & Pastel, 2006, 76 x 23 cm
This painting was one of the first pieces I did using both paint and pastel. As the title suggests, it is based on a very memorable occasion when we were caught in a thunderstorm on the Little Hills ridge of Ben Vorlich at the side of Loch Lomond. We were only about 1000 ft above the loch at the time and the ridge at this point is a kind of broad double ridge with a deep grass filled hollow between. There really wasn’t much we could do as the storm arrived and so we just deposited the walking poles a good distance away and stood waiting for it to pass. The rain was tremendous and everything became very dark, but thankfully there wasn’t any lightening near us and after a while the rain started to ease. As it did, we had this wonderful view of the loch as the returning light started to catch it. Despite being quite an old piece now, this is still one of my personal favourites. It’s currently being exhibited at The Resipole Studios on Ardnamurchan.
Work of the Week: ‘ Ben Ledi from Benvane, April afternoon’
'Ben Ledi from Benvane, April afternoon'
‘ Ben Ledi from Benvane, April afternoon’ , Acrylic & Pastel, 2009, 76 x 23 cm
It’s amazing how fast this last year has gone and despite the current snow and cold, spring really isn’t far around the corner. Last April we spent a long and tiring day walking the two hills of Ben Ledi and Benvane. There was still a few patches of snow high up but the day itself was clear and warm with bright sunshine and little if no cloud. The walk up Ben Ledi is by a big path and attracts a lot of walkers. Once down the other side and past the descent path, the long undulating ridge over to Benvane is far less frequented. We only met a couple of other walkers on the long haul over and by the time we reached the summit of Benvane in the mid afternoon, we had the place to ourselves. Big views indeed and brilliant colours. At this time of year though the days still aren’t that long and we had a very long trop back. We made it off the hill before dark but didn’t miss the thundery shower waiting to soak us a mile from the car!
Work of the Week: ‘Winter afternoon, Beinn Dorain’
'Winter afternoon, Beinn Dorain'
‘Winter afternoon, Beinn Dorain’, Acrylic & Pastel, 2009, 90 x 60cm
I did this painting after a fantastic day walking this time last year. A friend and I went up to Bridge of Orchy to climb Beinn Dorain – and caught ourselves a wonderful few hours of weather. It was freezing hard all the way up from the road, but there really wasn’t much snow except on the steep north facing slope not far below the cairns. As we climbed the clouds broke and although clear around us, the hills of Crianlarich and Glen Falloch were all sticking there heads out of the mist. Being mid week we only saw a couple of other walkers and when we reached the main summit we had the place to ourselves. We just sat and took in the incredible views and complete silence.
Posted in Artwork of the Week Tags: Beinn Dorain, Bridge of Orchy, Crianlarich, Glen Falloch No Comments »Work of the Week: ‘Suilven, from the coast’
'Suilven from the coast', Pen, 2009
‘Suilven, from the coast’, Pen, 2009, 18 x 12.5 cm
I’ve always loved sketching outside although it’s sometime difficult to make yourself stop and draw when you’re out on the hill walking. But it really is worth while as it gives you a chance to really take in your surroundings. I did this little drawing last year when Anita and I were on holiday last May in Assynt. We were staying at the beautiful sandy bay of Achmelvich, just a few miles up the coast from Lochinver, and, as the weather was too poor for a day on the hill, we decided to follow the craggy coast south for a couple of miles. From any where along this coast the famous Assynt sky line grabs your attention – if of course the cloud is high. On this day, despite the gales, the famous Assynt peaks of Canisp and Suilven were clear and, at a sheltered spot I decided to sit for a short while and do some drawing. This quick little sketch was the result.
Work of the Week: Organised Scribbles
'Early Morning'
‘This was the first of my ‘organised scribbles’. I drew this after a particularly beautiful early morning walk through the countryside near Irvine. The low early sun was so bright that I could see very little, just the vague shapes of odd trees and shrubs amidst the summer grasses’.
This drawing was created using hard, water soluble pastels. The drawing is built up in layers of scribbled pastel line, starting with very light and pale colours and gradually developing the drawing using brighter and darker ones. Putting down the first few layers is a pretty soul destroying and time consuming task and one which I’m always grateful for having one of the RNIB talking book machines and a good book to listen too! Once through this stage, the interesting part starts, I can work out what’s happening and where I’m going with the drawing. For me, the great thing about working in this fashion was that I’d found a way of working that didn’t need much sight but that still had the appearance of being quite detailed.
These early drawings were nearly all based on the local Irvine landscape and townscape. The harbourside where my studio is situated is a wonderful place, changing in mood from hour to hour as the tides ebb and flow and the weather moves in off the Firth of Clyde. The light, just like in the hills, is constantly changing but it’ never dull …even on the dullest of days. It can be equally stunning on a day of gales and rain as on a beautiful summer’s day. It was then for a while the focus of many of my new drawings.