We spent an enjoyable day here at Millmouth Beach in North Devon after walking down from the National Trust Carpark at Brownsham. The beach, cottages and surrounding area has been used for the recent film The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. The sun was warm and the tide on the ebb so after taking a few pictures these are a couple of my photoshop offerings.
I haven’t photoshopped any WW2 planes lately but after seeing these on the Imperial War Museum Archive, which came to my attention on Google, I decided on this. The cottage is at Blackpool Beach in North Devon and has been used in many films The Night Manager being the most recent. Below I’ve added some people from a WW2 photo taken during a supplies drop in Holland again referenced off Google Images. Picture of Blackpool Mill cottage is my image.
https://www.hartlandpeninsula.co.uk/self-catering/blackpool-mill-cottage.html
Just an experiment with colour and shapes, an acrylic painting on gesso panel 440 x 560mm A loose painting inspired by a wonderful photo by Liam Alford Photography on Instagram. This image is of Lands End in Cornwall, I particularly like the stone cold and neon cheap light in this picture typical of cloudy coastal scenes at this time of year. Oh I also have a little art assistant to! Stanley Brown our new Tabby!
Whilst looking through one of my hard drives I came across this image of an old, and rather large watercolour of mine. It is of Wringcliff Beach at the bottom of The Valley Of Rocks in North Devon, painted about 1980. I recall placing this on ebay for sale with no reserve, some lucky person in Lynton picked this up for £10, well you live and learn. Al
A painting of Kynance Cove from a few days ago. We had walked from the Lizard Village to Housel Cove, then on past the Lizard Point to Kynance. The day had been very sunny but quite cold for this time of year, but once here we witnessed a massive hailstorm, we had a mug of tea and waited out the storm. Most people present left immediately and after half an hour the sun came out and this scene was captured on my Huawei phone.
A warmish Bank Holiday Sunday so we drove to the carpark just above the Watersmeet Tearooms which are managed by the National Trust. Not too many people here because of Covid so we sat in the sun and each imbibed in a rather nice cream tea. The birds here are quite tame and at times you can hand feed the sparrows and chaffinches. After tea we walked down from the Tearooms to Lynmouth along the Lyn Valley. Finally we arrived at our destination and found a warm spot by the river out of the cold wind to relax in. I must say though that Lynmouth was heaving with tourists. Al
ps The first two pictures of the Tearooms were taken a few years ago when Covid hadn’t been invented yet and leaves were on the trees!
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/watersmeet/features/eating-and-shopping-at-watersmeet
A wonderful day of walking around the amazing Lizard Peninsula. A pleasurable walk from the Lizard carpark down to Housel Cove, then along the South West Coast Path via Lizard Point to Kynance Cove. Arriving at Kynance we were assaulted by a massive hailstorm which lasted over half an hour. Once the blue sky finally arrived you could see the storm on the horizon like an atomic bomb blast! Whilst the storm was overhead most people had left the beach, when the sun returned we had the beach to ourselves a rarity here that’s for sure. Here I always marvel at the coast’s clear turquoise water and rugged outcrops of granite stone. We returned back along the coast path spotting bobbing seals and paddle boarders making the most of the warm sunshine, then to Housel and finally the carpark. More inspiration here for future paintings! Al
The picture below shows how the sand ebbs and flows throughout the seasons. The above image was taken a few days ago May 2021 the lower image taken in the Summer 2020.
A painting inspired by The Lizard Peninsula. This is of the secret beach at Housel Bay a perfect place to go swimming. In fact I’ll be walking there later this week, don’t forget to say hi!
A trip out Heywood Forest to visit the Norman Heywood Castle. Built by the Norman in the 11th Century and is an example of a Motte & Bailey Castle. The forest has a wonderful walk through the pine trees ideal for dog walkers. From the main A377 there is a quaint drive through some idyllic country lanes lined with thatch cottages and farms.
https://www.devonperspectives.co.uk/heywood_castle.html
CIRCLE OF LIFE
A small acrylic on panel of a section of the South West Coast Path between Heddon’s Mouth and Lee Abbey, 370 x 610mm acrylic on panel. You can see the dot of the Abbey in the distance of this painting in the sunshine. I’ve tried to portray the cool shadows against the warm Spring sunshine and am trying to simplify my brushwork somewhat. We’re looking forward to visiting Hunter’s Inn again when it opens for a few drinks. Al
Al Brown Artist. 