Painting in North Wales - Such a delight, even in the rain!

It was such a delight painting in North Wales, even in the rain!

I have always adored painting in North Wales and especially Snowdonia, ever since I was first taken there as a child. That was over 60 years ago.
It was a delight to visit again, after last year’s lockdowns and to reminisce on my childhood exploits. I enjoyed painting the unspoilt beauty of the region.
It rained every day, but luckily, not all day, so I established the routine of heading up into the mountains first thing each day. I was checking if it was ok for painting, if it was misty or raining heavily. If so I would go back down to the valleys and lakes, and paint there.

The valleys were usually better for painting in North Wales.
This way, I managed to paint at all my chosen places during the week. This is a photo of my ‘plein air’ painting set up, above Ffestiniog, (top) and again at Llanberis pass. Here (above) I spent almost a whole day painting in clear weather. These are the results.

(At left) is a painting of some dry stone and slate walls typical of the area, with a dam and reservoir high up above Ffestiniog.
The walls are to keep sheep enclosed, although higher up, they are able to roam freely.

I painted this high up in the mountains where I saw this lonely cottage, on its own. I realised this stream in the foreground was the source of the river Conwy.
Some of these paintings were completed in the rain, under an umbrella and sometimes even from the front seat of my car.

Here I am back down in the valley of Aberglaslyn, painting in north wales, and its raging white water, attempting to capture some of that energy in oils. I managed to paint twelve oils, and even made some sketches, whilst it was raining heavily. Here is the fast flowing Llugwy and a lone fisherman, trying his luck. (below).