Sheepfolds on the way to Skiddaw House

Skiddaw House from Swineside

A cold, but still, and rather murky day, but a cracking walk up to Skiddaw House along the track beside the River Caldew. Good views of the surrounding fells - still with snow on and of the many new scars caused by the winter's land-slips.

New pebbles in the beck brought in by the winter's storms.

Sanaigmore beach, Islay ....oil painting

Another really large oil painting...

Machir Bay - reflections

On return from Islay.....a large oil..

Islay Bushnell camera trap highlights.

Despite some unpredictable weather ..

Single hooded crow investigating the site.

Compilation of a hoody that found the eggs! 

Vulcanite bottle stoppers.

Tom's been doing some more research into the Portnahaven vulcanite bottle stoppers and photographing them...

Beach finds from Portnahaven, Islay

All these were found on the beach during our week's stay with the exception of the whelk (Kilinallan) and the fishing float (Kilinallan too). Many more bottle stoppers (bottom right) were found - 75 in total!

An afternoon of more prints of Islay..

As mentioned in my previous post the weather was challenging today, so after a visit to Bowmore an afternoon of experimenting with textures in monoprints from photographs taken during the week. Apologies for the poor photos lighting was an issue today!

Barnacle geese at Bowmore

The weather forecast was abysmal and the weather lived up to expectation ...so into Bowmore ...where even the barnacles were reluctant to get up!

Sanaigmore beach.

Superb light - thanks to the earlier prolonged hail shower...and a lovely clattering of choughs.

Machir Bay and an armoured bullhead!

As always superb reflections on acres of sand...found an armoured bullhead washed up which we were able to return to the surf to hopefully fight another day.

Saligo bay ...more waves!

Around Ardnave point

Another glorious trip around our favourite point.

The views..

LHS: tufted duck, geese, purple sandpiper, bar-tailed godwit and oystercatchers
RHS: oystercatchers, sanderling, greenland white-fronted goose and whooper swans.

The waves.

Mono print of Islay cliffs

A wet day so opportunity to play!

The beach; the field sketch; the plan and the tracing.

The printing - monoprinting and some stencilling. 

The final print 

Beinn Bheigier (Ben Vicar) from Claggain Bay, Islay.

An unbelievably dry and sunny day with no wind, so down to park at Claggain Bay to go up Islay's highest mountain - Beinn Bheigier, 491m. Followed the newly constructed track before passing through the deer fence onto the fell. A visible path leads up onto to a first peak - mainly molinia and heather - and then onto the lovely broad ridge. Lots of nice arctic/alpine flora and the most fantastic views all round the island.

The route 

Fir club moss

The views

The 180 degree panaorama

Rocky's day...on Ben Vicar (Beinn Bheigier) on Islay

A dry and sunny day with no wind! Just the day for posing by cairns and crunching ice!

Kilinallan reflections.

Kilinallan and beyond ...

What a glorious sunny, but cold day. Fortunately the wind wasn't too bad so a good 18 miles along the coast past Kilinallan and Gortantoid. Spectacular views of Ben More and north to the snow-covered mainland.

Westering home...

An interesting journey over the 'Rest and Be Thankful' and a beautiful crossing to Islay and Portnahaven.

Red Kites in the Mist.

Following our visit to the kite feeding station at Laurieston - a lino cut combined with a monoprint over pencil crayon.

The sketch 

The print - coloured background

Black an white version 

Inuit inspired lino cut.

Loving Tom's latest lino cut.

The design; the lino cut and the print. 

Snowy Solway - Criffel from Mawbray.

A larger oil painting from a couple of days ago.

Laurieston Kite Feeding Station.

What a superb day - first a visit to the McGill Duncan Gallery in Castle Douglas and then kite feeding at Laurieston. Photography wasn't easy as it was a dreich day ...a return visit beckons!

Trail Camera badgers (Part 2)

We continue to enjoy collecting images from the Bushnell camera trap ...and creating compilation photographs.

Carrion crow; woodpigeon; rabbit; magpie and grey squirrel.

Badger compilation - 3 different visits though.

Rabbits! (Compilation)