An Arran Collection.

I don’t know how many more times I will be visiting the Isle of Arran, but I do know that whenever I do, I come back with a sketchbook full of ideas for new work. This time I seem to have gathered images from the Island’s compass points. It was a season of wildflowers, heather in bloom on the hills, rose bay willow herb and ox eye daisies on the shore.

I did a new walk, in the North West of the island. The Coire-Fhionn Lochan is a beautiful place, perfect for a dip on a hot day, the water is edged with a shingle beach and huddled under heather strewn hills. It was walking back down, alongside the Uisge Soluis Mhoir when I decided to sit and sketch. Listening to the stream tumbling down over rocks and looking across heather to the Clyde and Kintyre.

In Brodick, looking north to Goat Fell, I found a spot where the daisies filled the foreground, their brightness contrasting with the dark hills beyond. The follows seemed to speak of Summer whilst the hills beyond spoke of Autumn’s approach.

Further round, on the edge of Whiting Bay, Willow herb flowed across in front of Holy Isle, reminding me that I still need to do that ridge walk.

Heading south to Kildonan, more wildflowers, yellow this time grew up bringing the sunshine right to the shoreline.

Since getting back to my work room, each of these pieces has been scaled up to 70 x 50 cm. I think they will make a lovely record of Arran visits, for me and hopefully others too.