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Snowy Cabin 1

I've been wishing for the Pyrenees to look like this, this winter. But not yet! I've been painting my wishes instead.

There are 2 versions of this scene - this portrait one and a landscape version.

Ink and Watercolour
The painting is on thick, slightly off-white, watercolour paper.
The paper is artist quality Fabriano - acid free for longevity.
The paper size is 30.5 x 23 cm

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Delicate Arch, Utah

In 2011 we visited Utah and Colorado on a climbing holiday. The wonderful red rock formations, towers, arches and canyons, all set in the desert, were some of the best scenery I had ever seen.

Ink and Watercolour
The painting is on thick, slightly off-white, watercolour paper.
The paper is artist quality Fabriano - acid free for longevity.
The paper size is 30.5 x 23 cm

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Red barn in the snow

I've been dreaming about a big snow dump in our new little town in the Pyrenees. And while we've had a dusting of snow in the town and we've had to go high into the big mountains to walk in it, it certainly hasn't looked like this, this year. At least not yet! But I can paint it, so that's ok :-)

Ink and Watercolour
The painting is on thick, slightly off-white, watercolour paper.
The paper is artist quality Fabriano - acid free for longevity.
The paper size is 30.5 x 23 cm

CLICK ON PHOTO TO START SLIDESHOW

Lighthouse with night sky

Lighthouses seem so romantic to me - places to protect you from storms and rocky dangers. I always enjoy painting them, but this one seems extra special with the starry sky and the last light of a pretty sunset lighting up buildings.

Ink and Watercolour
The painting is on thick, slightly off-white, watercolour paper.
The paper is artist quality Fabriano - acid free for longevity.
The paper size is 30.5 x 23 cm

CLICK ON PHOTO TO START SLIDESHOW

Sunlit ruin, Tiermas

Tiermas is an old Roman town. In the 1950s most of the town, the old Roman baths and all the orchards and arable land was flooded to make way for a reservoir. Everyone, except 2 of the inhabitants, moved on, with the remaining 2 staying until they died. It's a sad story for sure.

The part of the town that was on a hill still remains, and is quite extensive. But it certainly is very ruined! On the day I was there it was rainy and I had a number of false starts before sketching, plus a few trips back to the van to wait out showers then setting up again and continuing. It was rather funny, and also totally worthwhile, because the lighting was beautiful with the sunlight catching the stonework on the buildings and the dark stormy sky.

This painting from one of the many photos I took on the day.

Ink and Watercolour
The painting is on thick, slightly off-white, watercolour paper.
The paper is artist quality Fabriano - acid free for longevity.
The paper size is 30.5 x 23 cm

CLICK ON PHOTO TO START SLIDESHOW

Ermita de San Anton, Pyrenees

The Ermita de San Anton is a lovely, historic building on one of our favourite walks. I've sketched it many times before when I'm walking past, but this is the first time that I've done a full painting of the pretty place. On one of our walks past the little chapel recently, the grassy patch in front was full of summer flowers and humming with bees and butterflies.

Ink and Watercolour
The painting is on thick, slightly off-white, watercolour paper.
The paper is artist quality Fabriano - acid free for longevity.
The paper size is 30.5 x 23 cm

CLICK ON PHOTO TO START SLIDESHOW

Puente de Moscarales, Boltaña

Last summer I visited this beautiful, 1000 year old, romanesque bridge in Boltaña in the Pyrenees. It's in a super pretty location, above some swimming holes, and has been beautifully looked after. It was a wonderful place to sketch. Back in the studio, I reworked this sketch into a finished painting.

Ink and Watercolour
The painting is on thick, slightly off-white, watercolour paper.
The paper is artist quality Fabriano - acid free for longevity.
The paper size is 30 x 19 cm

CLICK ON PHOTO TO START SLIDESHOW

Little bird house in the snow

The last light catching a lovingly placed bird house on some silver birches. I had so much fun with the all the warm colours in this snowy scene.

Ink and Watercolour
The painting is on thick, slightly off-white, watercolour paper.
The paper is artist quality Fabriano - acid free for longevity.
The paper size is 30.5 x 23 cm

CLICK ON PHOTO TO START SLIDESHOW

Boathouse, Norway

Just how I remember Norway - little boathouses in yellow, white and red dot the fjords and reflected in the calm waters. Often grey and rainy, of course, but the greens and house colours seem to be made more vibrant by this contrast.

Ink and Watercolour
The painting is on thick, slightly off-white, watercolour paper.
The paper is artist quality Fabriano - acid free for longevity.
The paper size is 28 x 19 cm

CLICK ON PHOTO TO START SLIDESHOW

Climber, Fiordland, New Zealand

A painting of my husband in Fiordland National Park where we've had so many climbing adventures over the years. This one from back in 2010, on our way to climb for a few days on the north face of Barrier Knob. As he tops out on this saddle in the painting he would be catching a glimpse of the famous Milford Sound.

Ink and Watercolour
The painting is on thick, slightly off-white, watercolour paper.
The paper is artist quality Fabriano - acid free for longevity.
The paper size is 30.5 x 23 cm

CLICK ON PHOTO TO START SLIDESHOW

Summit peaks, Aoraki / Mt Cook

New Zealand's beautiful highest peak - Aoraki / Mt Cook. I can't even remember how many times I've painted or sketched it. She's beautiful from any angle. Here I chose to paint the summit peaks in a limited palette and loose style.

Ink and Watercolour
The painting is on thick, slightly off-white, watercolour paper.
The paper is artist quality Fabriano - acid free for longevity.
The paper size is 30.5 x 23 cm

CLICK ON PHOTO TO START SLIDESHOW

Waterlily pond

One of the highlights of my guided painting retreats in Southern France is when we visit the beautiful water gardens near Sarlat-la-Caneda. It's a joy to sit near one of the ponds and sketch plein air. A very Monet type of experience :-)

Ink and Watercolour
The painting is on thick, slightly off-white, watercolour paper.
The paper is artist quality Fabriano - acid free for longevity.
The paper size is 30.5 x 23 cm

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Street scene, Chulilla, Spain

The backstreets of Chulilla are a wonder to explore. Cobbled alleys, white houses, little pots of flowers everywhere. And every now and then a glimpse to the red cathedral as a contrast. I spent many hours happily sketching in little nooks - finding sun or shade depending on the temperature of the day.

Ink and Watercolour
The painting is on thick, slightly off-white, watercolour paper.
The paper is artist quality Fabriano - acid free for longevity.
The paper size is 30.5 x 23 cm

CLICK ON PHOTO TO START SLIDESHOW

Almond Blossoms

I can tell you that sketching in an orchard of almond blossoms is a sensory overload - the colour of white against blue, the wonderful smell and the hum of the happy bees. Back in the studio I revisited the experience and with this painting aimed for a loose painting that feels carefree.

Ink and Watercolour
The painting is on thick, slightly off-white, watercolour paper.
The paper is artist quality Fabriano - acid free for longevity.
The paper size is 30.5 x 23 cm

CLICK ON PHOTO TO START SLIDESHOW

Chulilla, Valencia, Spain

Climbing and sketching paradise, we spent 2 months in Chulilla in the spring of 2023. The red cliffs and gorges and the streets of white houses provided endless sketching and painting inspiration. I filled pages and pages in my sketchbook and did a number of larger paintings. We'll be going back soon!

Ink and Watercolour
The painting is on thick, slightly off-white, watercolour paper.
The paper is artist quality Fabriano - acid free for longevity.
The paper size is 30.5 x 23 cm

Sold

CLICK ON PHOTO TO START SLIDESHOW

Barn in a field of dandelions

I just want to run through this field and set them all off. To watch the wind catch the seeds and send them floating away :-)

Ink and Watercolour
The painting is on thick, slightly off-white, watercolour paper.
The paper is artist quality Fabriano - acid free for longevity.
The paper size is 30.5 x 23 cm

CLICK ON PHOTO TO START SLIDESHOW

Barn, Pineta Valley, Pyrenees

The beautiful Pineta Valley in the Spanish Pyrenees in autumn. There is this big stone barn nestled in a row of trees, with the mountains and forest in the distance - I come and sketch here often. In autumn it is extra special.

Ink and Watercolour
The painting is on thick, slightly off-white, watercolour paper.
The paper is artist quality Fabriano - acid free for longevity.
The paper size is 30.5 x 23 cm

CLICK ON PHOTO TO START SLIDESHOW

Lighthouse, Maine, USA

Somehow lighthouses, stormy skies and crashing waves are meant to go together. Especially in watercolour :-)

Ink and Watercolour
The painting is on thick, slightly off-white, watercolour paper.
The paper is artist quality Fabriano - acid free for longevity.
The paper size is 30.5 x 23 cm

CLICK ON PHOTO TO START SLIDESHOW

Giant Sunflowers

I drove past this scene for months watching the sunflowers grow and grow, until they've become these giants! Then one day I couldn't resist and I stopped to take some photos. My favourite kind of scene - a rustic old barn and a rampant garden. How could I not be inspired?!

Ink and Watercolour
The painting is on thick, slightly off-white, watercolour paper.
The paper is artist quality Fabriano - acid free for longevity.
The paper size is 28 x 19 cm

CLICK ON PHOTO TO START SLIDESHOW

Golden Chervil (1)

In summer, in the Pyrenees, Golden Chervil covers many fields in a sea of white. Some of the plants grow taller than me! I've enjoyed painting the fields from a distance, capturing the white against the green, and painting the flowers up close. Up close you see all the tiny flowers that make up with big head (and there's usually a ladybird or two as well).

Ink and Watercolour
The painting is on thick, slightly off-white, watercolour paper.
The paper is artist quality Fabriano - acid free for longevity.
The paper size is 28 x 19 cm