Above: Red Perfume Bottle with Silver Cap. Oil on 12 by 9 inch wood panel. Rose Strang 2025

This is the first of three winter still lifes I’m painting for the Graystone Gallery in Edinburgh. They’ll be available to buy from around the 10th December, so contact the Graystone Gallery with any queries, they’re super helpful!

If you follow this blog then you might recognise the subject as this is not the first time I’ve painted this beautiful little bottle. The last time was in 2020 for the Limetree Gallery, Bristol. It belongs to my mum and I find it a magical little object. It always made me think of Lucy’s little cystal bottle which held healing elixir (The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe).

Others have said the painting makes them think of Alice in Wonderland (the “Drink Me” scene). I love painting these jewel-like still lifes in winter. Landscape painting is easier in the warmer months as the colours are so subtle. Winter light is hard to paint in, so up-close, monochrome or strong-coloured subjects work well

I think my painting has improved since I last painted this subject, you can be the judge of that though! Here they are, side by side …