Hercules C130J over Saunton Sands.
On a walk around the North Devon Coast we spotted some fire trucks from Chivenor Air Base on the beach at Saunton. We knew that they practice landings and take offs from the beach and on enquiry our suspicions were realised. A Hercules C130J from Brize Norton practiced landings and in total made three landings and two aborts. A great day as the beach was very quiet. From some of my photographs I’ve made composite photoshopped images and I will be using them for some future large canvas paintings & prints. Al
Another beach painting in view of the forthcoming Autumn weather. Oil on canvas 36 x 36″ Saunton After The Storm. North Devon, England.
An acrylic on canvas 600 x 900mm. After a cycle ride around Saunton and Crow Point I returned to this Linhay on the Braunton Marsh. I like to sit and sketch and watch the sticklebacks swim in the clear waters of the drain. Not today it’s freezing. This scene shows the stark winter sun receding behind a bank of grey rainclouds. Time to cycle back to Barnstaple as the warmth of the sun has gone. AL
The Tollhouse which leads to Crow Point in North Devon. Acrylic on canvas 900 x 600mm. I’ve tried to catch the moment when the neon bright winter sun disappears behind a heavy bank of dark rain clouds. It the moment when everything is bathed in stark light but the background is heavy with weather. Funny how all the birds go quiet in such atmosphere as if there was an impending aclipse. Al
Pen & Ink drawing of a duck on the Braunton Marsh 320 x 260mm. At the moment this wonderful habitat to wildlife and beautiful area of Braunton is under threat as a dyke has broken down and the sea in moving inland. The Braunton Marshes are a hidden asset of North Devon supporting wildlife of national and international importance. It’s now under imminent serious threat. An environmental disaster is looming on the horizon due to a sea breach of great significance unless immediate action is undertaken by relevant parties.
Another Biddieblack painting of one of the drains on Braunton Burrows. This was initially sketched at the junction where you turn left towards the toll road which leads to Crow Point. I quite like the sheep’s wool caught on the barbed wire to the left of the picture. Al
Al Brown Artist. 