‘View to Gidleigh’
I took a recent trip to Dartmoor in search of a sweeping view and new places to explore in the summer. I drove through a little place called Murchington, which I thought was promising. After a while, I found myself driving alongside the moors and decided to pull over when I spotted a steep ridge that looked as if it would provide the perfect vista I sought. Bundled up with several more layers, I ventured over ill-defined boundaries between farmland and moors before hiking up a short but steep elevation, only to realize halfway up that I’d left my coffee in the van. The large tufts of heath concealed a winding rugged path underfoot, carved out by agile critters unburdened with easel and paints and three layers of clothing. The view eventually overlooked Gidleigh, and I centered the painting around a pleasing trough of ice, speckled with warmer patches of sunlight nestled in the cleavage of two hillsides. The moorland air was so fresh and earthy, imbued with the timeless mystery that Dartmoor possesses. I was aware of the stone circles and tors that surround the area and hope to revisit soon to explore further—perhaps when the temperatures are above -5°C!
This painting was mostly completed on-site and finished off in the studio. You can view a short reel from my Instagram page of that morning and the progress of the painting below.
'View over Gidleigh'
40.5 cm x 57 cm
Oil on panel.
View painting.
