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Black Corries Glencoe

Gryffe Neuk and Black Corries Lodge, Glencoe

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Gryffe Neuk
Gryffe-Neuk

This is a painting of Gryffe Neuk, a cottage and smallholding just off the Greenock to Kilmacolm Road in Renfrewshire. My father’s cousin Jenny lived here with her husband Willy for many years where they grew delicious tomatoes in their glasshouses. I have great memories of visiting “Cousin Jenny” as a small boy, and the excitement of paddling down the Gryffe river (which flows past the property) with my father in a home-made wooden boat!

[“Neuk” – an old Scots word meaning corner, river bend or nook. As in the East Neuk of Fife.]
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Black Corries Glencoe
Black Corries Lodge, Glencoe

This one is of the famous Black Corries Lodge, on the edge of the remote Rannoch Moor near Glencoe, looking towards that iconic mountain, the Buachaille Etive Mor. I’ve tried to capture the remote bleakness of this beautiful yet unforgiving landscape. I believe you can now stay in the Lodge which has been upgraded by the Black Corries Estate. That’s if you’re into hunting and fishing of course!

Paintings are for sale here (if you’re fast!).

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painting of Gateside Farm

Gateside Farm, Kilmacolm

This is a painting of Gateside Farm from Gateside Road, just off the Kilmacolm Road which connects Greenock with Kilmacolm. My father’s ancestors were born here, so this subject will always have precious memories of him for me.

The Kilmacolm Road is a beautiful part of the country, indeed, it is said that when Queen Victoria was looking for a Scottish retreat, she nearly chose the countryside around Kilmacolm in preference to Balmoral! I have to admit, though, that the Highland scenery around Balmoral is on a much grander scale! Still as the old verse puts it “East, West, Hame’s best!”

painting of Gateside Farm
Gateside Farm, from Gateside Road, near Kilmacolm

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Puffintastic!!

Well I did say in my last post it was gonna to be “just fantastic” etc., and for me, that’s exactly how it turned out! I’ve had a great time over the past couple of weeks painting these wee puffin smashers! I hope you will enjoy my paintings of these quirky, colourful little birds too.

photo of six watercolour paintings of puffins
Six watercolour paintings of puffins (all 5″ X 7″)

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See my latest available Paintings for sale on eBay here!

 

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Old Cars!

1930’s American Bantam Model 60, Conte chalk on Ingres Paper

Pardon the pun but I’ve always been “drawn” to old cars as a subject, especially old cars that have been abandoned and are beginning to decay and fall apart. There’s something sad about an old rust-heap and yet the beauty of the original design and the engineering skill that went into these magnificent creatures somehow shines through all the more.

I say “creatures” because old cars like these seem to take on a personality of their own – they speak to me; they say: “I used to be something special; people valued me and cared about me – even loved me – until a newer, better model came along and then they retired me – relegated me to the second-hand market and eventually I ended up here, a discarded, useless, decrepit piece of junk! But in my heyday….you want to have seen me!”

Maybe these beautiful old beasts are a kind of metaphor for the arc of life we all go through as we age – eventually we all have to face up to the bitter truth that we’re not as fit or as sharp as we used to be – sooner or later we get replaced by younger models with more energy, youth and drive.  Ah, but you should have seen me in my heyday!

Mercedes Benz 170V, Pencil on Ingres Paper