Above: November II. Oil on 12 by 9 inch wood panel.
These are three little winter studies of interiors, a temporary change of scene from landscapes (details below also showing frames)
These will be on exhibition at The Lime Tree Gallery, Bristol from November 8th 2025. (Please contact the gallery with any enquiries)
‘November. 1’ Oil on wood. H 30.5cms W 23cms. Rose Strang 2025
November II. Oil on 12 by 9 inch wood panel.
Sold. ‘November. 3’ Oil on wood. H 30.5cms W 23cms. Rose Strang 2025
I like this sort of painting as we go into winter – the darker palette and jewel-like colours lend themselves to winter light. and are quite meditative to paint.
October used to make me feel a bit trepiditious about the dark of coming winter, until I became fascinated by Medieval philosophy through reading books by C.S. Lewis and Michael Ward (Planet Narnia). Medieval philosophers believed seasons were ‘influenced’ by planets, so the dark months of winter corrrespond to Saturn: learning, time, authority, death, introspection – quite a heavy little collection of influences there, but I find when you embrace this time of year with a book next to the fireplace and a contemplative mind (maybe a little whisky too!) it’s all good.
(Above – driving through Glen Shee to Braemar. Photo Rose Strang. All photos below by Rose Strang and Adam Brewster)
The more I visit the Cairngorms the more I understand how they pull at the heart. In Nan Shepherd’s words from her poem – Summit of Corrie Etchachan:
” …No vision of the blue world, far, unattainable, But this grey plateau, rock-strewn, vast, silent …”
The Braemar Literary Festival was abuzz with ideas and conviviality – it was truly special to be there, but what remains with me is the changing mood and light of the mountains and the sense that just beyond the warmth and safety of Braemar is this arctic beauty, clear water, epic forests and everchanging skies. I really want to go back there and paint!
I was surprised by viewer reactions to my paintings (The Living Mountain series, completed in 2021). It was emotional and I had some really lovely conversations with people who feel passionately about the Cairngorms, for which I’m very grateful.
Copyright Fife Arms Hotel
I attended the festival with my partner Adam, and we were blown away by the generosity we experienced from Art Farm (the people who manage art and cultural events at the Fife Arms Hotel on behalf of Hauser and Wirth). Also by the people who run the Highland Pavilion, who provided us with fresh coffee, scones and friendly chats the two days we were there.
We didn’t expect Art Farm to invite us to their yearly literary dinner at the Fife Arms, along with some well-known authors and poets including David Nicholls (One Day), Alexander McCall Smith (44 Scotland Street) and Scotland’s Makar (Poet Laureate) Peter MacKay.
The Fife Arms instagram page has some great photos of the weekend on this link –
David Nicholls was amused when I told him he’d traumatised me with his gripping, emotional book One Day. We chatted about the effects on society of lockdown, touched on in his new bookYou Are Here, which I’m already enjoying – it has the characteristic loveable, flawed characters Nicholls is known for.
I was sitting next to Peter Mackay for dinner, and had a fascinating chat about Scottish Gaelic, the structure of ancient clan society and Scottish politics. Turns out we’d both drawn a parallel between the underground mycorrhizal networks that connect trees (explored by scientist Suzanne Simmard) and non hierarchical clan society. That was a bit of a niche ‘high five’ moment! Here’s my rambling post on the subject from 2019 – Planets, Narnia, Clans, Trees)
Alexander McCall Smith was as convivial as you’d imagine, telling me an amusing tale about a painting he’d acquired from the Scottish Gallery which turned out to be by a Dutch master!
The entire weekend was a rich and autumnal experience that Adam and I won’t forget, so a warm thank-you to all at Art Farm, The Duke of Rothesay Highland Games Pavilion and staff at The Fife Arms Hotel (unmatched for lush comfort, warmth and style!)
I’ll end with a poem (it was written first in Gaelic then translated by MacKay) by Peter MacKay, which, although it’s about the sea, not the Cairngorms, somehow speaks to me of their pull …
Rose Strang Artworks 