Allt Dearg Mor, Black Cuillins, Skye (sold)
Not the name of the peak but of the lively stream that cascades down the mountain and accompanies the walk to Bruach na Frithe. High up on the hillside is an isolated cottage looking so vulnerable against the backdrop of shattered volcano. The challenge was to capture this sublime setting and reflect it in the calm pools, and as ever to leave little trace of my passing in the paint. To be more painterly would be to litter the setting with urban artworld concerns and distractions. It is how nature actually looks in its infinite detail that excites me, not how I can then distort or reduce it.
Ribblehead, Langstrothdale, North Yorkshire
Have been meaning to paint this for a few years now. North of Ingleton above the waterfalls one emerges onto a plateau of limestone, fluted by wind and rain, stranded boulders here and there, sinkholes, and strange plants. Ancient tropical sea-beds end up here in north yorkshire and suddenly it is plain to see that all human life is a tiny and temporary interlude. We may not survive but the Earth will, the only evidence of us will be a seam of exposed strata millions of years hence, a fossil viaduct. Such are the strange voyages of thought that solitude in this place inspire.
Swirral Edge, Helvellyn, CumbriaI have climbed Helvellyn several times, firstly aged eleven with the family and friends. Later on an art college field trip I could persuade only one other student to climb it with me, the majority opting for an afternoon smoking roll-ups in Glenridding. We caught the light perfectly and I did two paintings based on that climb, sold one of them to a dog-walker who used to pass by my studio window at Loughborough. Climbing hills was always easier after that, I was getting paid for it.
This picture is painted from a climb in late october as the low sun bursts under the clouds, thoughts turn to getting down before darkness. I think next time I will take a tent and stay up there for the full show.
