It’s Sunday so a slow start to the day. Sat at the window and painted those colourful houses again. Portree harbour Went for a drive to find a distillery. The Talisker distillery in the Loch of Harport. The tours were booked out so Margaret had a wee dram, then we went up the road toContinue reading "Rainy day on Skye"

I woke at some early hour and pulled the curtain and this is what I saw!! Stunning view from our accommodation. The coloured houses looked great further on in the day. Portree. Quick little watercolour of the houses. Didn’t have quite the right colours in my little w.c. Box. We went for a bit ofContinue reading "Skye"

We had to get in a boat and go look for Nessie. Didn’t find her but came to this amazing place Urquart castle ruins. 9.30 in the morning and all these people already walking around the ruins. What is left is apparently only 15% of the original castle. Back in Fort Augustus for lunch andContinue reading "Off to Skye"

Thought I would introduce you to Shirley Pinder. Follow her on Instagram. Wonderful artist Shirley Pinder having her residency at Cromarty. Left Cromarty and went to Loch Ruthven to see if we could spot these endangered birds. Saw some little ducks. Loch Ruthven sketch. Then down the road to Loch Ness to see if weContinue reading "Loch Ness"

Two weeks has gone really quickly and now I’m packing up ready to start the next leg of our journey. We have been joined by my cousin Margaret and her husband Simon and we shall have a little road trip next. But today there was one piece of paper left that I really couldn’t takeContinue reading "End of Residency"

Three others working at the stables today. Leon works with timber, Mino works with copper and Tommy makes parchment for his script work. Leon explaining his process for producing his art. The egg shape in the foreground is covered with fir cones. Cut from timber the shape is covered with glass and rods of fencingContinue reading "Working from the Stables."

After today I only have 2 working days left here. Wow!! It’s gone so fast. Consequently I spent most of the day in the studio. Using my photos from our weekend I got inspiration for some landscapes. Near Wick with the Orkney Islands in the distance. Painted on 1/3rd sheet of hot pressed watercolour paper.Continue reading "Count down at Cromarty"

Started the day driving out of Thurso in the rain. The first stop was Dunnet Headland which is the most northern piece of land in Britain. COLD and WINDY but what a view. There is a lighthouse, still operating, old WWII bunkers and a private residence. Magnificent coastline. Orkney Islands in the distance. A stoneContinue reading "The Top of Britain"

It’s the most northern town in Britain , and we are here. Did a bit of a road trip today. Stopped off at Dunrobin Castle. Just to use the loo. It doesn’t look it but there were soooo many people and I think we parked in the wrong place. I mean, there was a parkContinue reading "Thurso"

Spent the morning in my studio finishing off these 2 little watercolours. About 6 inches square( I’m in imperial land now) and fun to do. I had put the wash on last night and done the pencil drawing so this morning I sat with a tiny brush and painted tiny windows and chimneys. Actually itContinue reading "Rainy day"