Scotland

Oil On Canvas - 56x61 cm

The village of Achiltibui is an isolated stretch of crofts and cottages strung along the spectacular North West coast of Scotland. Looking away from the sea the view is equally spectacular. The unusually shaped mountain was immediately recognised by a friend as Stac Pollaidh, a distinctive landmark, and I love the contrast of its dominant shape with the rather hummocky foreground. The characterful shapes or the crofts give focal points to the landscape.

Oil On Canvas - 66x56 cm

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Oil On Canvas - 71x71 cm

This is probably my favourite part of Scotland, although not as dramatic as the far North. It is an area of abbeys, stately homes, gentler hills, stone walls and woods spread around the Eildon Hills and along the Tweed, Etrick and Gala rivers. Plenty of top class fly fishing!

Oil On Canvas - 51x41 cm

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Oil On Canvas - 56x51 cm

The Summer Isles are opposite Achiltibui up on the far North West coast of Scotland. The hazy light of sunshine filtering through thin cloud emphasizes the way they seem to float in the sea just off the coast. The abandoned croft and higgle-de-piggledy fence emphasizes also the loneliness of place as do the wild bushes and rough grass in the marshy ground.

Oil On Canvas - 46x61 cm

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Oil On Canvas - 56x63.5 cm

When the light is sharp and clear the colours are at their most intense as they are here in the foreground. The islands, however, still retain their mystery and seem to float on a luminescent sea.

Oil On Canvas - 51x66 cm

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Oil On Canvas - 46x61 cm

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Prints Available

Sir Walter Scott lived at Abbotsford near Galashiels and often travelled by horse and trap to Dryburgh Abbey near Kelso. On the way he always stopped to admire the view of the Eildons and the river Tweed. The story goes, that after his death his coffin was taken by the same route to be buried at Dryburgh and, of course, his horse stopped automatically at the same spot. This is one of my favourite views too, especially in the Autumn when the colours are at their best. I have tried to capture the timeless quality of the scene as well as the beauty and intensity of the colours.

Oil On Canvas - 41x51 cm

I am drawn time and time again to paint Scottish cottages with their colour outlined windows and striking dormer windows. An added bonus here was the brilliant yellow gorse and the blue boat in the foreground.

Oil On Canvas - 30x41 cm

Shieldaig is an absolute gem of a village right up on the North West coast. The cottages like a necklace edge the horse-shoe shaped bay and, floating just like a perfect illustration in a Bonsai book, is a tiny island crowned with a clump of pines.

Oil On Canvas - 61x63.5 cm

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Oil On Canvas - 46x60 cm

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Oil On Canvas - 51x71 cm

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Oil On Canvas - 46x61 cm

The best time of the year to explore the Borders is definitely the Autumn. The tree colours, particularly of the beeches are so vivid, ranging from gold through orange and red to russet brown. The “old roads” are the original narrow roads between the towns and here it is roughly parallel to the “new road” from Peebles to Galashiels, which is beyond the trees running alongside the river Tweed.

Oil On Canvas - 61x66 cm

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Oil On Canvas - 46x56 cm

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Oil On Canvas - 46x66 cm

This is a restaurant with rooms an hour’s drive from The Skye Bridge on single roads with passing places, but still dedicated “foodies” make the pilgrimage. Apart from that, the views are magnificent and the sea views and peaceful atmosphere are worth the journey.