A Sunny Day

 After what seems like weeks of rain yesterday was frosty and bright. Snowfall overnight on the hills meant that he ski slopes were open . In the morning the sunlight caught the steep eastern slope of Aonach Mor; I sketched the above view from our house.
 Later we had a wonderful  run up to the north face of Ben Nevis, which look magnificent with its plastering of  fresh snow.
 Meanwhile in other parts of Britain there was extensive flooding . We are very lucky that despite a  high annual rainfall, flooding rarely affects our area.

Today it was dull and then wet again. We stopped for a coffee on the way to Inverness and I painted this view of Loch Ness..

Glen Etive again

Hills between Glen Etive and Glencoe

I had another trip to Glen Etive on Thursday. It was cold ,windy and  wet. Passing through Glencoe it was very moody with cloud shifting across the hills and intermittent vicious showers of sleety snow. It was dramatic to see but I was quite happy to be in a warm vehicle rather than climbing the mountains.

More paintings

Waterfall in Glencoe

Red deer hind in Glen Etive

 The estates often feed in the winter so some deer loose their fear of people and vehicles. This can make driving hazardous but does mean you can take good photographs. The picture above is from a photo I took on my phone last Friday. Up close the red deer often look quite bedraggled . Their size is impressive and  they have a regal bearing but I think roe deer are sleeker and more beautiful.

Wintry Weather

Winter is drawing on apace.This is a view of Glencoe from a photo taken last Friday. There is just a dusting of snow on the tops. Since then there has been a lot of snow intermingled with slushy sleet; not very nice to be out in. I'm grounded at the moment with a throat infection, so haven't done any running for the last few days. A hot toddy by the fire seems a better option!

Trip to Essex

Last week I took the sleeper train to London for a conference. It was a hectic few days . Leaving my parent's house at 5.30 to run the 7 miles to the station to catch the train to Liverpool Street. Lectures all day then the train home.
However we spent the weekend relaxing, going to pubs and running .
On Sunday we went to the Chequers in Goldhanger a 15th century pub close to the Blackwater Estaury. The food is excellent and there is a good range of real ales to drink. One of my favourite runs is from the pub along the sea wall back to Maldon.
Despite the reputation of Essex being built up and full of night clubs. the coastal marshes are truly wild with big open ever changing skies, there is the distinctive tang of mud and salt and the air is filled with the lonely cries of  sea birds. Although in the South of England it always seems cold with a wind 'like a whetted knife'

The  marshes from the seawall near Goldhanger

 The Bell in Purleigh is also one of my favourite pubs - a historic old building in the centre of a picturesque village.The rector of the village church from 1632 to1643 was Laurence Washington great grandfather to George Washington the first President of the U.S.A.
Importantly there is a good running route from my parents house.

In my parent's kitchen

Canal near Beeleigh

Recent Paintings

On the way back from Acharacle- Loch Sunart

Grey Corries -Stob Choire Claurigh

Looking back towards Stob Choire Gaibhre

I haven't done much  outdoor sketching recently . The days are shorter and the weather has been  wet and windy; not ideal for painting watercolours. However I have done some paintings from photos .

The bottom two pictures are from photos taken on a beautiful afternoon in the Grey Corries two weeks ago . It is a long slog up fom the Leanachan Forest to the ridge but once there the views are stupendous. Because the Spean Bridge is hidden in the valley all one can see in every direction is rank after rank of pristine mountains. There are no towns, no houses, no roads nor indeed any sign of man's mark on the landscape visible. It is a wonderful  playground of glens, hills and forests and I'm lucky enough to live in the middle of it.

The top picture is a view from the road  between Strontian and Acharacle on another fine day.The road is single track and twists and turns along the lochside and through  beautiful oak woodlands. It is always a treat to drive there although concentrating on the road rather than the scenery can be a challenge !

Theresa

Yesterday afternoon I went for a run on The Grey Corries, the mountains closest to where I live.
It was a great day; dry and sunny with spectacular autumn colours. Higher up it was cold and windy but still clear and bright.As the day drew to a close the mountains threw long dark shadows and the landscape was suffused with a wonderful golden glow from the sinking sun. I spent much of the time deep in thought . On such a lovely day in such magnificent surroundings I felt privileged to be alive. All the more so because last week we heard the tragic and unbelievable news that Theresa, a vet I used to work with, had been killed in  a car accident.
Theresa was brought up on Mull. On graduating she took a job in Fort William. However when the chance to buy the singlehanded Mull practice came up she took what was likley to be a once in a lifetime chance despite her relative inexperience. An extremely, capable and caring vet it was a job that was made for her .Most would find the prospect of taking on a practice single handed especially on an island extremely daunting: No back up, no colleagues to consult, no days or nights off unless a locum was employed.  Few people today would be willing to make that sort of sacrifice. Theresa had the passion and drive to make it work and she did. I'm filled with admiration for what she achieved.
So it is such a cruel blow that she was killed returning from an evening call last week . She was only 29 and had so much ahead of her. It is a terrible loss not just to her family and friends but to the islanders of Mull and to the veterinary profession.

Glencoe from a photo taken last week

A sketch of Ben Nevis from Banavie

View from the Gairlochy Road .Aonach Mor in the distance

Corrour Station run

Last weekend we ran from Corrour Station to Fort William; not a huge distance(about twenty miles ) but it was extremely swampy underfoot with numerous stream crossings .It rained virtually all day expect for a brief period of sunshine when we were close to the Meanach bothy.The Autumn colours were marvellous, the grasses in the hills a brilliant orange yellow. The stags were roaring their melancholy calls adding to the wild atmostphere of the area.Despite the weather we had a great day out . The only sketch I did was fom the warmth of a coffee shop in Fort William.

 Today I did a sketch of Loch Linnhe from the west end car park in  Fort William. Walking back alongside the loch my attention was caught by a stream of bubbles in the water  about fifty feet away . The source of the bubbles was an otter which then emerged from the water with a fish in its mouth.It seemed unconcerned by the traffic roaring along the bypass.

Loch Linnhe

The Lairig Ghru

Last weekend we went to Aviemore. It is a couple of years since we visited the Cairngorms which is my old stomping ground . Just walking down the main street of Aviemore brought back many memories - of finishing the Lairig Ghru race , of catching the evening train to Blair Atholl then running the 40 miles back overnight , of arriving late at the youth hostel and luxuriating in the comforts of civilization after a  hard day in the hills. I have had so many great adventures in the Cairngorms!
 Nowadays living on the west coast we enjoy more craggy and steeper mountains but it is hard to beat the vast rolling plateaus of the Cairngorms . It is one of the few true wilderness areas in Britain and also the coldest.
In the afternoon we ran through the forest and up into the  Lairig Ghru which is a pass that clefts the range in two with Ben Macdui and the Cairngorm plateau on one side and the Braeriach , Angel's Peak and Cairn Toul on the other. I did a quick sketch of the pass before we had to head back to the car . We both decided that we had neglected the area for too long and  needed to get back for some more longer visits

Quick sketch of the Lairig Ghru from the north

Pencil drawing of the Lairig Ghru from the Braeriach with Cairn Toul on the right

Looking across the Lairig Ghru to Devil's Point

Patience Brewster

Recently I was e mailed by Marietta a nice lady from Patience Brewster who asked  if I would answer some questions about myself on this blog.
Patience Brewster started as an illustrator of children's books but now designs makes whimsical ornaments and stationery. .Apart from her being a talented artist I find her story inspirational as she has built a successful business around her art and employs a close knit team of people to make and market her ornaments.

Storm gathering over Loch Leven

Here are the questions
1) As a child do you  recall a significant moment when you felt truly affected or impressed by a particular artwork or artist?
There was no single significant moment but I was greatly influenced by illustrations in the books and comics I read. I was lucky enough to get 'Look and Learn' - a brilliant magazine that cleverly combined science and history with serialised classics and the sci fi strip' The Trigan Empire'.It was lavishly illustrated One was attracted by the comic strips but then absorbed the educational aspects of the comic and the great art by default. It was the curtain call of the  age of great illustration and sadly failed to survive, Employing all those illustrators on a weekly basis must have been extremely expensive. Pictures by legendary artists such as Fortunino Matania were still gracing its pages when I started reading it in the 1970's. Not only did the illustrations inspire my art but they sparked a life long interest in history and science.

2)As an artist what do you hope to convey with your work?
My first love is the mountains. For years I spent all my spare time exploring the mountains of Scotland especially the Cairngorms. I would spend  days wandering the tops on my own, spending the nights under a overhanging rock or in the winter in a bothy. I developed a great passion for the rugged beauty of the scottish hills which I attempt to convey with my work.
My art falls in to two main categories - outdoor sketches and more considered watercolour landscapes painted  from photographs. I always try to be true to nature but want to convey something of the atmostphere and drama of the hills. I sketch anywhere and everywhere trying to follow the urban sketchers manifesto, showing the world one drawing at a time.
In particular with the frustrating and fascinating medium of watercolour I try to strike a balance between very loose wet washes where the paint mixes on the paper and careful controlled layers of glazing. I believe that watercolour is such a beautiful medium that it is  a shame not to let its underlying aesthetic qualities shine through by over controlling it. Equally creating a painting which is aesthetically pleasing but not true to nature makes me feel uneasy.

3)What memorable responses have you had to your work?
For most of my life my art has been a private passion so I'm at the stage when any comment is welcome.

Arisaig village - evening.

4) What is your dream project?
My dream project would be to write and illustrate books about the Scottish Highlands.

5)What artists do you admire?
To many to mention . Years ago I was obsessed with the Pre- Raphaelites mainly due to their doctrine of painting true to nature. I love the art of Alan Lee especially his pencil drawings. David Curtis is a inspirational plein air watercolourist. However James Gurney of  the gurney journey blog is head and shoulders above the rest. His Dinotopia books are magnificent but he is also an ardent sketcher /plein air artist and film maker. He writes his blog everyday providing tips ,entertainment and encouragment.His enthusiasm for art is  infectious.

Thanks to Marietta from patiencebrewster.com

Indian Summer

We have been enjoying some great weather recently. In addition there have been some beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Last week I had to go to Arisaig in the evening and was fortunate to arrive there at sunset. The clear blue sky became tinged with yellow and orange which was  mirrored in the calm sea. On the horizon the islands began to fade in to the haze. It was sublime!
It is hard to convey the beauty of the area; The combination of the rocky coast, the sea and the islands of Eigg and Rum in the distance are unbeatable. I took lots of photographs but unfortunately didn't have time to do a sketch on the spot.

Painting of the view from Arisaig from a photo

Sketch of a similar view in the daytime

Sketch of the view from Ardgour looking up loch Leven  towards Glencoe

Fiverr portraits

 I have set up some 'gigs' on the website fiverr. I will draw a person or animal and deliver a jpeg file of the result for for 5$. I can send out the actual picture for an additional 20$.
 I have always had a hankering to be able to draw good portraits.The ability to capture a likeness  seems magical to me . I really admire James Gurney's skill in this respect.He can sketch accurate and beautiful portraits in watercolour or gouache. Often he will write down a snippet of conversation in his sketchbook or get the subject of the picture to sign the sketch.
  I regularly do rapid sketches of people on trains and buses but would like to do more detailed and better portraits.
 I know that the only way to improve is to practice .The 4$ I will get from drawing a portrait on fiverr is not a good return for one or two hours work, but I'm hoping it will give me the opportunity to draw a variety of faces and animals so improve.It's about building a portfolio and honing my skills rather than making money. So if you would like to help me out and allow me to draw your portrait or a picture of your pet click on the link to my gig Lochaberart. Thank you!

I was shocked and sad to hear that Scott Dinsmore had died .He was a talented and  inspirational young man who founded the website Live Your Legend. His premise was that people should do what they are passionate about rather than what other people tell them they ought to do. Rather than trying to climb the corporate ladder and acheive status and financial sercurity he thought one should find and do the work you love. He was doing just that-travelling aound the world to meet like minded people that he had inspired through his website. Tragically he was killed by a rockfall close to the summit of Kilimanjaro.
His Tedx talk which you can find on you tube is really worth watching .
Scott Dinsmore and others like him have inspired me to attempt to pursue my dream of a career in art. This month I have reduced my hours at work so I can spend more time drawing and painting. For me this is a big step and I am nervous about the financial implications. However I know that it is the right thing for me to do at this time. Whether I can make a success of it and make some money from art remains to be seen. Watch this space!

Farewell To Chris The Vet

Last Friday was the funeral of Chris the vet. I only met him a few times but I felt I knew him well because I have listened to so many stories about his exploits. Resourceful and compassionate he was at one time the only vet in the largest ( in geographical terms) practice in the UK.
He was in many ways the vet I wish I had been ; spending his days serving the community driving miles and miles on tortuous roads,visiting crofters and treating their animals. It sounds idyllic but it must have been a tough life and not any easy way to make a living . Imagine having to get up in the middle of the night drive for several hours to calve a cow, drive back  do a full days work  then probably have to go out the following night. Nowadays we have a one in four rota and regular days off. I don't think I could endure the punishing workload that Chris seemed to thrive on.

It was clear at the well attended funeral just how popular he was in Lochaber . To me he will always be a legend ; colourful character from the days before political correctness, endless paperwork and regulations started to suck the pleasure out of being a vet. May he rest in peace.

Ring of Fire Postscript

Now the aching muscles and joints have improved and I'm back at work it is time to reflect on what an amazing experience the Ring of Fire Race was. There is something very satisfying in running a circular route especially when it involves circumnavigating an island.There was a great camaraderie amongst the runners that came from eating , sleeping and running together for 3 days. The marshals were brilliant - always friendly and supportive yet very efficient.. There must be an enormous amount of work in organizing a 3 day event yet everything seemed to go like clockwork. James and his team did a fantastic job once again!

Ring of Fire Ultra 2015

Last week we had a holiday on the island of Anglesey in Wales. My parents had rented a house near Beaumaris on the south coast of Anglesey for us all to celebrate my Dad's 80th birthday. Helen and I and my sister were also planning to run  the Ring of Fire Race a 135 mile 3 day stage race around the coast of Anglesey. We ran it last year  and really enjoyed the experience.
Beaumaris is a delightful little town on the coast with lots of old buildings, interesting shops, a castle and an historic gaol. I would have liked to spent more time exploring but as always getting ready for the race took longer than anticipated.We also did a reccee of the last section of day 2 of the race as we knew it was hard to find. On Friday we all headed over to Holyhead for the race start in the country park.
The first section of the race is relatively uninteresting- on roads and through parkland then on a stony beach. Soon though the coast becomes more dramatic. Beyond the second checkpoint the scenery is spectacular ,plunging cliffs tiny coves, stacks , caves and arches.  I saw some gannets wheeling by the cliffs; white birds with black wing tips, I hadn't realised how big and impressive they are.
Neither Helen or I were particularly fit, niggling injuries having curtailed our normal training. However I was enjoying the running which by now was all on twisting cliff top paths.
The 3rd checkpoint at Wylfa Head was beyond the power station- less picturesque and just after an energy sapping stony beach. Soon that was behind us and we were back to gorgeous cliff top running.Many times the path plunged down to little bays before climbing equally steeply up the other side, to add to the drama there were isolated ruins of silica brickworks dotted about.
By the time I got to Bull Bay I was tired but knew the end was close. Some runners that had just passed me missed a left turn out to the honesty book and had to backtrack.There were 5 honesty books in the race - clever system making sure nobody took a short cut. Every runner had to tear out a page from a book placed on the route and present it at the next checkpoint or finish
I arrived at Amlwch just before dark very happy after a  fairly tough 35 miles. The overnight accomodation is in a sport hall with good showers and a canteen serving generous portions of delicious lasagne. Helen arrived an hour later and my sister a few hours after that.
The sound of Jonhny Cash singing The Ring of Fire roused us all to early on Saturday morning. The second day of the race started at 6am just before dawn.
The morning when it came was gorgeous and we enjoyed the ever present sea and rolling coastline . I started at a reasonable pace but my lack of fitness began to show by the time I got to Red Wharf Bay . My back which had been a problem last year started to hurt and several times I walked to relieve the pain. I picked up a bit on the climb up to Castell and ran with a group of others to Penmon Point unfortunately I left my water bottle in the check point  and in the few minutes it took to go back to retrieve it they got ahead. Here I was also passed by a runer called Maryann who was cheerfully running up the hill out of the check point. For me there were two reasons to walk 1) to eat and drink food picked up at the checkpoint, 2) it was a hill. Tough lady!
There are only 4 miles from Penmon Point to Beaumaris ( the half way point ) but I found it a struggle. I was feeling nauseous and tired , after the long hill there was a road section then a long beach of mixed sand and stone then more road . I found it virtually impossible to run on the beach, and road is my least favourite terrain. However at Beaumaris there was the pleasure of seeing my parents and three nieces who were waiting for me at a cafe. At the actual checkpoint there were our half way bags. I drank a can of double expresso coffee and a tango and ate some rice pudding. By now it was very hot and I was worried about becoming dehydrated or not taking on board enough salt. I am used to runing in the rain and cold but hot days are very rare in Scotland.
The next section involves a lot of road as we picked our way through Menai . One of the pleasures of this and many other ultras is that one keeps passing and being passed by the same runners and repeatedly see their supporters at checkpoints and road junctions By the end of a three day event they are like old friends. I really appreciated the encouragement and support they gave me.
After Menai came the famous village of Llanfairpwllgwyngllgogerychwyrndrobwlllantysiliogogogoch! This apparently translates as Saint Mary's church in the hollow of the white hazel near a rapid whirlpool and the church of Saint Tysilio of the red cave.Fortunately being  able to say the name was not a requirement of the ultra.
Beyond St Mary's we went along the A4080 then across farmland .I saw a group of teenagers having a picnic in the shade of a huge oak tree, how idyllic it looked, how nice it would have been to have stopped there, to relax and drink a beer or two and while away the afternoon!
As the day wore on I picked off the miles jogging slowly along. The Sea Zoo checkpoint was a milestone I was glad to pass. I had been leapfrogging with two brothers Andy and Justin and their friend Chris for some time but as I was flagging decided to tag along with them. The were really nice guys and chatting with them was a real boost. They had been brought up in Wales but had emigrated to Perth Australia twenty years ago. Now they were back to run the Ring of Fire Race!
On Newborough beach I fell behind. My legs were ok but I was very thirsty yet queasy. Whenever I drank I would feel even more sick. Eating food was out of the question. I think my lack of fitness, a second day of hard running and the heat were all taking there toll.
However at Newborough Forest checkpoint I had some delicious tomato and basil soup and was buoyed up to hear it was only 10 km to the end of day 2.
As darkness fell and it became cooler I felt much better. My pace picked up and having recceed the last section I was confident of the route- I was enjoying myself again.
In the infamous corn field (many people struggle with navigation here) I heard a shout. My friends who had got ahead were lost but had seen my head torch.I was pleased to be able to tell them that I knew the way because I felt I was repaying some of their kindness and companionship earlier in the day. We took a 300 degree bearing across the big field and hit the style and the the lane just right . Soon we were on the beach closing in on the honesty book and our final destination  of  the day;Aberffraw village hall.
Aberffraw hall is much smaller than the sports centre we stayed in after day one and has no showers but there were less of us left in the race. There was something of a Dunkirk spirit there;People and equipment were strewn randomly on the floor, some tended their blistered feet others tried to sleep. In the corner a sports massage therapist was attempting to coax some life into the muscles of a runner lying prone on a table. The ever cheery marshalls were dispensing cups of tea and bowls of pasta.
In dribs and drabs more exhausted  runners arrived throughout the night. Helen didn't arrive until almost 2am, my sister had pulled out much earlier.
At ten to five the Ring of Fire music blared out again jolting us out of sleep and  almost bringing tears to my eyes - here  we go again!
 It was a much smaller group of dishevelled,unwashed, unshaven and bleary eyed runners that gathered outside the hall for the pre race briefing than had left Holyhead. At six we were on our way again.I was happy to find I could still run. The first checkpoint at Sandy's Bistro had the attraction of a bacon or sausage bap and tea. I ate as much as I could knowing that I would struggle to get food down later. The weather was cool and cloudy - ideal for running.
On day 3 the route is sometimes difficult to follow but I half remembered some bits from last year which helped. Around four mile bridge the scenery is not particularly inspiring but from Silver Bay we were back to gorgeous beaches and craggy cliff top running .I was flagging again and was passed by a few people.
At Trearddur Bay I felt really sick. I was going so slowly that I decided to go into a pub to buy some soda water which is the best solution I know for nausea in an ultra.Then I bought a cup of tea and a can of tango from a snack bar. The tea and the soda water worked really well and I felt much, much better. It is surprising how getting the right food or drink on board can make a difference between dragging oneself along at a survival shuffle and jogging along feeling well and happy.
I had calculated that there was 15miles to go from Trearddur Bay but at the checkpoint they told me  that it was only 9.5miles so that was another boost.
The race has a sting in its tail in that one has to climb over the shoulder  of Holyhead Mountain. Actually it is more of a grand finale because it is such a beautiful place especially on a clear day.On the way up I spotted some choughs- rare members of the crow family with red bills and legs.
The route descends from the shoulder all the way down to North Stack then climbs up again . Then a few more twists and turns and the field with the finish was in view. I was almost overwhelmed with emotion as I sprinted the last 150 yards, with of course The Ring of Fire coming over the PA system. It was a great finish after 3 days of toil. My parents, lots of the marshalls and many of the runners I had got to know over the last 3 days were there so there were lots of hugs and congratulations. I didn't have long to wait before Helen came trotting down the mountain too.

Map of Anglesey showing the race route

Some quick sketches from our holiday

Sunny afternoon on Loch Lochy

We are just home from a holiday on Anglesey in Wales and running the Ring of Fire ultramarathon. I'm half way through writing a race report.
 In the meantime here is a picture I painted today of the view across Loch Lochy. It was a glorious day so we drove out to a layby on the A82 and I painted Meall Na Teanga and Sron a Choire Ghairbh. The late afternoon sun was casting beautiful shadows on the hills. As a yacht sailed close to the opposite shore of the loch its sails were caught by the light shining through the gap in the mountains.

View From Ben Nevis Inn

Ben Nevis and Carn Mor Dearg

Last weekend we went to the Ben Nevis Inn for a coffee: the first sketch is the view of the Ben path with the Mamores beyond . Afterwards I ran up to the Half Way Lochan. As always the Ben path was crowded with tourists (of course I was crowding the path too). It is good to see so many people enjoying the mountains but it is difficult going up whilst dodging walkers coming down. However much you want to feel goodwill towards your fellow mountaineers it does detract from  the enjoyment of the hill. When I turned off the Ben path and headed over to Allt Mhuillinn ( the valley between Ben Nevis and Carn Mor Dearg) I suddenly found myself alone . From jostling with the crowds on the Ben path to being in a true moutain wilderness in the space of a few hundred metres: what a relief! Maybe it is best that most of the tourists are channelled up one path leaving the other parts free to be enjoyed in solitude by those that seek it.
I stopped and did a quick watercolour sketch on the corner then carried on to the CIC hut( Britain's only Alpine style hut) and a bit beyond. The North Face of the Ben never ceases to thrill me with its crags and corries most often wreathed in shifting clouds.There were still a few patches of snow clinging to the cliffs. In my opinion this side of the mountain is far more preferable to the long trudge up the tourist path.
 From there it is a long run home but an enjoyable one entirely on forest trails.

Pine Marten Cafe

We actually had some sun today. This is the view from the Nevis Range Pine Marten cafe at lunchtime. The top of Aonach Mor was still hidden in cloud but the sun was shining on the trees in the foreground. I was very tired after being called out at 2.30am but a large Americano coffee with cream helped!

Trip to Norfolk

On  Monday we went to the beach at Sherringham. I love the bustle of seaside resorts with all the little shops and attractions . Sherringham also has a steam railway  and a miles of cliff top walks . We went for a run up the coast and then returned for a swim in the sea .The water was wonderfully refreshing after getting hot and sweaty running.

Bruce the cat at home

Slightly wonky sketch of Helen chatting to her sister in the sun

View of the river at Thorpe Green after a meal at the Rush Cutters pub

We did a couple of long runs in the Norfolk countryside finding some good routes south of Norwich.
 The Boudicca Way is a well waymarked trail from Norwich to Diss; we did the first section then joined up with the Tas Valley Way(which goes from Norwich to Attleborough)  northwards  then jigged west to Heatherset where a well earned beer and a barbecue awaited us.
 It was a lovely hot day but we were surprised and dismayed at he lack of pubs in the villages; we only wanted a cup of tea but there was none to be had in about 25 miles of running! The villages were delightful , ancient flint walled churches and thatched cottages, beautiful greens and plenty of trees but it is a shame that most cannot sustain any local services such as a pub or shop. They are casualties of the modern car based world where the city is only a few minutes away on an ugly dual carriageway.
Now we are back home in rainy Scotland. Work tomorrow!

The Small Isles

I had the chance to go to the Isle of Muck last week, one of the smaller of the Small Isles.It is owned by Lawrence MacEwen . The whole MacEwen family are extremely friendly and welcoming , very down to earth and hardworking. I have been to islands where one gets the impression that the inhabitants are there to get away from the rest of humanity, where there is an undercurrent of unhappiness and loneliness. Maybe my impression  of Muck was coloured by it being a lovely sunny day but everybody I met seemed contented and happy with their lot. I'm sure it is different in the depths of winter but last week it seemed an idyllic place. I would love to spend more time on the island although being only one mile by two and almost entirely lacking in hills it would become frustrating for an ultrarunner after a while!
   The boat trip on the Sheerwater from Arisaig is always a great experience with a chance to see birds, seals and whales . The Sheerwater is  a small boat so the crossing can be rough but on Friday it was  calm . Returning in the afternoon across a glittering sea, the islands of Eigg and Rum were grey silhouettes on the horizon, the sky, previously a brilliant azure blue, was full of drama as the sun dipped low  and clouds built up - it was a beautiful end to a wonderful day.

On the Sheerwater

Quick sketch of the distinctive profile of the An Sgurr of Eigg

The Sheerwater moored at the slipway on Eigg ( it stops here for half an hour on the way back from Muck)

  Polly Pullar has written a book about Lawrence MacEwen and Muck called A Drop In The Ocean , it is well worth reading.

Gas Station challenge

Last Sunday I painted the petrol station at Carr's corner near Fort William in order to enter James Gurney's gouache competition. The challenge was to paint a gas station in  black and white gouache only . Not my normal subject matter but I managed to sneak some hills into the background ( Ben Nevis and  Melantee )  . I found it quite difficult  firstly painting in black and white secondly the gouache which was only my second attempt in the medium and also painting the cars which kept driving off !
Needless to say there were some brilliant entries so my picture didn't get anywhere. You can see the winners on gurneyjourney on Wednesday's post.