Tag Archives: scottish seascapes

'Cliffs of Griburn, Loch na Keal. Mull'. Oil on 20x20 inch wood panel. Rose Strang 2021

Loch na Keal on the Isle of Mull

Above: The Cliffs of Griburn, Loch na Keal. Mull. Oil on 20×20 inch wood panel. Rose Strang 2021. (please contact the Limetree Gallery if you’re interested in the painting above or have any questions about buying it, on this link Limetree Gallery)

In the past week or so I was busy on a private commission of paintings of Loch na Keal on the beautiful Isle of Mull. This was for someone who wanted two paintings showing the changing light and weather of Loch na Keal. He wanted particular views – of the dramatic cliffs of Griburn and Eorsa Island on the loch – views very familiar to his wife, for whose birthday the paintings were commissioned.

‘Changing Weather, Loch Na Keal’. Oil on 20×20 inch wood panel. Rose Strang 2021
‘Autumn Light Over Loch Na Keal’. Oil on 20×20 inch wood panel. Rose Strang 2021
‘Cliffs of Griburn, Loch na Keal. Mull’. Oil on 20×20 inch wood panel. Rose Strang 2021

I was very touched by his care in describing the features he wanted to include and the fact his wife particularly enjoyed the changing clouds and colours of the sky. I decided to paint three views so he would have a choice of two from those. He decided on Autumn Light Over Loch Na Keal and Changing Weather, Loch Na Keal which I do agree make a lovely pair of paintings, showing the colours of autumn and clouds forming and re-forming over the loch.

The remaining painting The Cliffs of Griburn, Loch na Keal. Mull is, I think, a more dramatic view. It gives a sense of approaching land from a boat, which I always find very compelling since it’s a view you’d never see other than from a boat. It’s now available from the Limetree Gallery. You can contact them on the link above if you’re interested in the painting or have any questions about it.

Thanks very much to John for this lovely commission. He tells me that his wife Sarah loves the paintings, which is music to my ears. What a beautiful place to live, and to paint!

You can view the Limetree Exhibition Brochure on this link ..

'North Berwick, Summer'. Mixed media on 18x18" wood panel. Rose Strang 2020. (NFS, Private Commission).

Finished Commission – North Berwick

Above: North Berwick, Summer. Mixed media on 18×18″ wood. Rose Strang 2020 (NFS, private commission).

I finally completed this private commission today and it will be winging its way to a new home soon!

The painting shows part of the headland past the town of North Berwick on the east coast of Scotland on a summer’s day in August.

This is one of my (and my family’s) favourite places to be. Though it’s just about thirty miles from Edinburgh, it always feels quite ‘away from it all’, the rocks are beautiful and as a kid it was heaven to play here, as an adult too!

The person who commissioned me works in a hospital, so I hope this painting is uplifting during a stressful time for folks in the NHS. Having said that, I hear that the non-Covid wards are not busy since everyone’s too scared to go into hospital for fear of either catching Covid or placing more strain on the NHS.

Below – a few photos showing some of the development of the painting. The challenge was capturing that lovely curve where sea meets land, also the dry August grass. The sea was not so much of a challenge once I’d toned down the rather too bright turquoise. You’d see bright turquoise on the west coast of Scotland but not the east coast!

The final touch was a lot of gesso splashed – it gives a sense of atmosphere and messing up a postcard-like view makes it more real – the way the eye sees in real life with peripheral vision and sun in our eyes, changing weather and so on.

It was both a challenge and a delight to paint, a big thank you to the person who commissioned this for giving me a really nice project during lockdown!

 

Limetree Bristol. Christmas Exhibition

Above and below –  three paintings which are included in the new Christmas Exhibition which launches 5th December at the Limetree Gallery, Bristol.

‘Early Evening, Ardban’. Mixed media on 14×11″ wood panel. Rose Strang, 2019

‘Dusk, Sanna Bay’. Mixed media on 14×11″ wood panel. Rose Strang, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s a delight to show with the Limetree Gallery Bristol again. Have a look at their lovely brochure for the exhibition (link below), which includes beautiful artworks by talented artists including Aldo Balding, Mike Carter, Andrew George, Ian Humphreys, Barry Kelly, Jane Kite, Alan James McLeod, Alison McWhirter, Teresa Pemberton, Helen Sinclair MRBS SWA, David Smith RSW, Trevor Sowden, Malcolm Taylor PS VPMAFA RBA, Peter Wileman FROI RSMA FRSA and Sian McGill.

Thanks to the Limetree Gallery for placing ‘Dawn, Ardtoe, on the front cover!

Lime Tree Christmas Exhibition Brochure Bristol

Paintings for Limetree Gallery, Bristol

‘Dawn, Ardtoe’. Mixed media on 14×11″ wood panel. Rose Strang, 2019

‘Early Evening, Ardban’. Mixed media on 14×11″ wood panel. Rose Strang, 2019

Above, three paintings for the Limetree Gallery in Bristol for their upcoming Christmas Exhibition. I’m very happy to be showing again at the Limetree Bristol, which showcases some of Scotland’s leading landscape artists. If you’re interested in any of these paintings, please contact Limetree Gallery on their website:

http://www.limetreegallery.com/

In this series I’m trying to capture the mood of changing light at dawn and early sunset. The term ‘gloaming’ – used to describe a particular pre-twilight Highland light, sounds romantic and it is quite magical. It’s a light that makes things slightly difficult to see;  a sort of subdued glow. I think I’ve maybe captured it in ‘Early Evening, Ardban’. Dawn on the west coast, looking out to sea, usually appears misty with suffused light since it’s coming from the east – colours are softened and low contrast – very tranquil.

These three paintings are worked up from sketches I made this year while at Ardban in Applecross, Sanna bay and Ardtoe beaches in Ardnamurchan – beautiful, remote places on the west coast of Scotland. I couldn’t resist a hint of chimney smoke from Ardban cottage, we had great times around the fire! Here are a few photos from my stay there in August …

Cottage. Rose Strang

Euan, Adam and Donald (playing guitar) outside the cottage. Rose Strang

 

 

Ardban Series

‘Twilit Sea. Ardban’. Mixed media on 31×22″ paper. Rose Strang 2019

‘Early Evening. Ardban’. Mixed media on 31×22″ paper. Rose Strang 2019

Today’s finished paintings for my upcoming exhibition at Limetree Lime Tree An Ealhain Gallery, in Fortwilliam, which opens this year on the 18th October.

You can view all the paintings so far Here (there will be ten in total). If you’re interested in reserving any of these paintings, please contact Limetree Fortwilliam at info@limetreefortwilliam.co.uk

Most of these paintings were painted in situ on the amazing peninsula of Ardban near Applecross on the west coast of Scotland. I’m finishing the rest in the studio which is less idyllic but more practical at least – here’s a video showing the wild conditions! …

 

Resipole, Ardnamurchan

The exhibition launch at the Resipole Gallery was fun and convivial, and Ardnamurchan was beautiful as always. (above – ‘Sanna Bay, Seaweed’, below, photos from the Resipole) ..

 

 

 

 

The exhibition continues until 28th June. All artworks on this link, also contacts for the gallery if you have any queries about the paintings: https://www.resipolestudios.co.uk/rose-strang

I went up there with a few friends and we stayed on the beach at Ardtoe in the Ardnamurchan peninsula – midgy but lovely.

Some photos –  in the afternoon, sunset then dawn…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing the castles and mythology theme for the Planets Series, we visited Castle Tioram which, though very overcast, looked mythical as ever, more so perhaps. Bad weather suits the west coast and highlands! These luscious pink rhododendrons are everywhere in May and June on the West Coast …

 

 

 

We sheltered in my favourite hotel – the Glenfinnan Hotel at Loch Sheil…

 

 

 

And lastly, some photos taken while we drove through Glencoe – it looks iconically Glencoe-esque in this weather …

 

 

 

More Sanna Bay …

‘Sanna Bay. Turquoise’. Mixed media on 20×16″ wood board. Rose Strang 2019

‘Sanna Bay. Green Water’. Mixed media on 20×16″ wood board. Rose Strang 2019

Today’s paintings of Sanna Bay for the up-coming group exhibition at the Resipole Gallery.

The exhibition launches on the 17th May and I’m delighted to be showing alongside some talented Scottish artists including Kirsty Lorenz, Kirstie Cohen and Richard Bracken.

Link to Resipole Gallery – http://www.resipolestudios.co.uk/

Below – all paintings from the Ardnamurchan series for the Resipole Gallery. Please contact the gallery on the link above if you have any enquiries about the paintings

 

Ardnamurchan paintings in progress ..

‘Sanna Bay Sea’. Mixed media on 20×16″ wood board. Rose Strang 2019

‘Sanna Bay, Rocks, Waves’. Mixed media on 20×16″ wood board. Rose Strang 2019

Today’s paintings of Ardnamurchan – looking out west from Sanna Bay.

These are for the Resipole Gallery exhibition which opens 17th May this year.

Harris paintings day 10

‘Tràigh na Buirgh, Harris’. Mixed media on 9.5×9.5″ wood pane

Just one painting today as I’m geting on with the marketing and publicity, with just under a month to the exhibition.

Also I have a new flat to decorate – I’ll post more about that in a few weeks as it will also be a studio and occassional gallery space, quite excited about it!