Three hour walk from Ashopton Viaduct to White Tor, taking in the spectacular autumnal views of Ladybower and the upper Derwent Valley, marvelling at the rays of sun breaking through the clouds behind Win Hill, and exploring some of the rugged gritstone tors. Encountered more grouse than I have ever seen before, a huge flock of redwing (possibly fieldfares), some kind of raptor having a rest on a telegraph pole and a pair crows of course.
Autumnal scenes and fairy houses from a quick scoot around Ecclesall Woods this week. I love this time of year.
Not much to report from the studio this week but here are a few snapshots from behind the scenes.
As well as grabbing as much painting time as I can between all the Other Things, I’ve been working on lots of shop updates and improvements, and I’ve put aside the guilt (mostly) and made time for a few sketch/walks out in the Peak District for some autumnal sunshine and inspiration.
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Almost a year to the day since I last went to the Secret Garden near Surprise View. It was such a beautiful day I had to get a bit of outdoor therapy and moorland inspiration for some new Peak District art. Gorgeous spring colours, shadows and textures, and lots of silver birches of course. I also surprised some sheep, but I apologised for disturbing them and took another path.
Just a couple of quick gouache sketches that were inspired by a weather-filled walk on Hathersage Moor this winter. The wind was wild, moving the swirly-whirly clouds along so quickly and allowing the sun to peek out and do its reflection-y thing again here and there, it was wonderful. I didn’t get rained on either, which was a bonus.
I try to suppress the melodrama that is often occurring in my head but, when I am walking and I am stepping out of people’s way, and when they are walking straight on and not acknowledging me as if I’m not even there, I think “I’ll haunt this place one day” and sometimes I feel so invisible that it seems like I’m haunting it already (but not necessarily in a bad way).
