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

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

This oil painting was made high up in the mountains where I saw this lonely cottage, on its own, and 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, 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).