A new year, offering for a fresh start with reinvigorated energy. This is the first painting to leave the easel in 2026, one of three that I’ve been working on from a trip to Galloway in September of last year. This was new terrain for me to explore and it provided inspiration for new work, as well offering the chance to relax and take a break from daily routines.
Galloway is a region in the southwest of Scotland , bounded by the sea to the west and south, with the Galloway Hills to the north. Having been told by several friends that Galloway is a beautiful part of the world, I had high expectations. I was not disappointed.
Much of the land in the south of the region, where we were heading, is given over to cattle, beef and milk production being major industries in the region. Indeed the field behind the house provided grazing for a herd of cows, who would appear at the boundary wall every so often and gaze at us curiously.
I was deeply drawn to the acres of green fields that occupied a gently undulating landscape, divided by drystane dykes to create a patchwork of soft shapes and muted colours.
Access to the coast was either by a short walk or drive from the cottage. In contrast to the rural landscape, the coastline features wide, sandy bays punctuated by clusters of rock, some jagged and others smooth and worn.
Kirkcudbright, known as the ‘the artists’ town’ was a short drive away and it certainly lived up to its reputation. Once the home of artists such as E.A. Hornel, Jessie M. King and Dorothy Johnson, the town has retained its reputation as a centre for the arts by hosting an annual summer long arts festival. It also boasts several excellent art galleries. With all of this on my doorstep and an inspiring view at very turn, I really had no excuse. The only question was: where to start?
To begin with, I created sketches from the photographs I had taken. I often do this if I haven’t sketched ‘en plein air’ to create some distance from the detail that a photograph typically captures. I also use this process to create a colour palette that reflects my impression of the scene. I chose large canvases for the final paintings as they offer greater scope to portray the broad expanse of the Galloway countryside and seashores. My chosen medium was oils, which are easier to blend and better capture the nuances of the shifting cloudscapes, seas and countryside.
Although progress on these pieces was sporadic, with gaps between periods of activity, it allowed for reflection on the process as well as the opportunity to revise and improve the work. For example, I reworked ‘Gathering Sky’ by adding a bit more texture, particularly in the foreground and softening the colour that I felt was somewhat harsh. This created a look more in keeping with the finish and colour palette of ‘September Song’, which is softer and reflects the subdued landscapes of the region. ‘Mellow Mood’ has been painted using a quite different colour palette: blues, pinks and ochres. The pigment has been applied using a palette knife, which gives it a sculptural quality and creates a sense of movement.
I have plans for another coastal painting to finish the set, so watch this space! The finished pieces will appear on my ‘originals’ page in due course.
Art by Smart 
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