Tag North Devon

Greencliff.

Al Brown Artist. Leave a comment

An acrylic painting 600 x 760mm on panel of Greencliff near Abbottsham on the North Devon coast. The view is looking downwards to the sea and in the distance Harland Point is seen. It is here where I go to collect the pigment I use to produce Bideford Black. I’ve experimented with layers of acrylic wash for this painting. When viewed in full sunlight adjustments had to be made to create that darker warm evening light. Al

Above are pictures of progress so far, I’ve also started another smaller painting of a sunset at Broadsands on Northam Burrows in North Devon. Last picture is of it in it’s new home, quite an impressive setting!

Roborough Hill.

Al Brown Artist. Leave a comment

Another picture inspired from Roborough near Pilton, Barnstaple. I’m using some broken sticks from the hill to create some surface texture. This is painted using Bideford Black hand prepared paint on thick cartridge paper. The view is of looking toward the top of road leading down to Raleigh and Barnstaple. In the distance there is a slight glimpse of the River Taw leading to Fremington Quay, Instow and Crow Point. Al

Woody Bay.

Al Brown Artist. Leave a comment

An acrylic on 16 x 20″ canvas of the wonderful Woody Bay on the North Devon Coast. I haven’t visited this location for many years and was delighted to find it as impressive as I remembered. A rocky beach with a Victorian swimming pool and remains of an old pier. Well worth a visit if you’re in the location. This is situated in the Exmoor National Park.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woody_Bay,_Devon
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/heddon-valley/features/woody-bays-victorian-heritage

Roborough Hill.

Al Brown Artist. Leave a comment

A couple of pictures from my latest foray up the very steep Roborough Hill near Pilton in North Devon. I’ve slightly tinted the black and white images to give them that look of an old school 1930s travel book. I remember, as a boy, looking through those old musty picture books of the world and it was from these very books that fuelled my inspiration to travel. These pictures will eventually become large Bidiford Black paintings.

Roborough Hill

The main reason why I was there today was to pick a place to photograph the Spitfire flying over the country’s hospitals with ‘THANK U NHS’ under it’s wings. I decided to return down the hill and finally took the picture below.

Spitfire over North Devon District Hospital

Floating Off Combesgate Beach.

Al Brown Artist. Leave a comment

A large digital painting I’ve been dabbling with on and off for a few years now! Using the app Procreate on my iPad image size 3,915 x 1,690 dpi. This image was captured on a GoPro camera between sets whilst surfing off Combesgate Beach in North Devon. In the distance you can see the back of the break with a few surfers making the most of a kind summer swell.

Below are the three layers I’ve used to create this large image. Once connected the final image is complete.

Above the completed image on the left and on the right just playing with photoshop to exchange the painted sky with a photographic one! Time to now move on as this composition is finally over and dusted. Al

Staff of the NHS Barnstaple, North Devon.

Al Brown Artist. Leave a comment

Presently I’m working on a series of sketches of some of my colleagues at North Devon District Hospital at Raleigh Park, Barnstaple. Pen and Ink on thick cartridge paper. So far I’ve drawn ODPs (Operating Department Pratitioners), a member of our Support Staff and Recovery Nurses. I’m also experimenting with Uni-Ball Needle Pens and the moment instead of my usual traditional knib or Staedtler fine draughting pens!

Cannis Aground.

Al Brown Artist. Leave a comment

A large acrylic painting on gesso primed 900 x 460mm board! This is of the old Tug / Service Vessel built in 1953. It is now lying at rest in a little inlet on the River Torridge near Appledore Shipyard in North Devon. I was taken with this image on a walk along the coast from Bideford to Westward Ho with all the rubbish and feeling of dereliction. In a dimly lit inlet this boat appears quite striking in the bright spring sunshine reflecting on the creamy white paintwork. After discussions with locals there appears controversy with regard it’s presence! Al

https://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/register/3004/cannis