When your painting holiday throws you lemons.

Loch Long, Sallachy, Skye and Lochalsh Photo credit Mark McDonald

Happy New Year! As many of you who follow my social media updates are aware, I spent three weeks in the beautiful highlands of Scotland in December. Yes, nice for some, you think, (it was) and it would have all been amazing if it had not been for a few life hiccups just before I went and then spending the first week and a half once there laid down with the Flu. Although the view above was what we had from the sick sofa…hence the title of this blog.

I had intended to paint paint paint as soon as we got there but after a week of arguing about who was going to get up and make the soup, I felt a little less inspired. After some recovery, I got out and about to explore the stunning atmospheric west coast of Scotland, specifically the Achnasheen area. The rain and wind had returned but I didn’t care. The first walk on that first beach after being cooped up was simply put, bliss. I know it’s a bit corny but, I felt alive.

I immediately got my panels and paints out and set about it. My fingers were frozen and sand kept blowing on my wet canvas but this just made the experience more shall we say, invigorating? Not painful at all…

I’m working on a new series of artwork based on this recent trip to the Scottish coast and will show some progress photos on my social media. I am currently showing work with two other amazing artists in the Land to Sea exhibition at Abington Park Gallery in Northampton and will be delivering work to London for the Wales Contemporary exhibition starting in March.

Melissa