“I am always moved when painting in nature because wherever I look I feel hope; the Skylarks singing high up in the sky despite the stormy weather and the light sparkling like gold dust on the shoreline.
I carry my art materials in my trusty trolley. It has been weathered by big hills, rocks, sand and even snow. It keeps all my materials together in one place and saves my back from a heavy rucksack.
My set up can look rather messy when painting plein air, to such an extent that I have been mistaken for fly-tipping many times! However, I always lay the materials out in the same way so that when working fast and spontaneously they are quick to hand.
For me it is important not to follow a rigid plan but to enjoy the freedom of painting by not overthinking, just trusting in the feel of the moment. I never know what will happen or what image will finally appear on my piece of paper. It is a flow of feelings.
When painting in all weathers there can be many practical challenges: the wind blowing my paintings across the Lammermuir Hills, low temperatures freezing my paints, and the frequent appearance of the rain in Scotland. But I am not overcoming these challenges to create the perfect image. All of these aspects are incorporated into my journey and channeled into the responsive marks and brushstrokes that I place. It all comes together as an expression of my experience and feelings in that moment. “ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNCUgCeEWA8&t=18s&authuser=3