Painting the Brecon Beacons, an Inspired Journey!

The worms head, wales an oil painting

The mountains of wales drew me once again, painting the brecon beacons! Wide open mountainous landscapes

Once again, I was drawn back to the mountains of Wales, this time the Brecon Beacons in the south, formed during the ice age,  leaving us with rounded summits and valleys, unlike those of snowdonia. Such powerful and ancient shapes.

As usual, I was typically out early each morning to try to capture the morning light as it rises between the peaks with ever changing shadows, a lonely figure in the landscape, with nothing but a few brushes and tubes of paint to work with. The occasional ‘bleat’ from nearby sheep, would keep me on track.

Any studio painters who suffer from lack of inspiration, just get out there into the countryside, and you’ll never be short of ideas! My heart keeps bringing me back to Wales, I can’t ignore it, I’m a different person once I cross the Severn bridge, and hear Bryn Terfel singing of his homeland. 

Here is a view of Treorchy in the Rhondda valley, a one time mining community, which boasts  a  famous male voice choir. With my own love of singing, It was begging me to be painted.
In the mountains, the weather changes minute by minute, which can be challenging to an artist.

I’ll leave you with my plein air studio at the ‘Big Pit’ Blaenarvon, the best mining museum there is, where you ride down in a cage 90 metres, wearing a helmet, light and battery etc.