The Isle of Iona - a place of pilgrimage - for artists too.

Getting across Mull, winding westward to actually reach Iona, can seem to take forever - though it’s worth it when you get there.

Some come as pilgrims and reverently plod around the religious buildings, others for the white beaches and calmness that pervades the place. It’s just a peaceful spot and it’s quite easy to find solitude even in high season.

Bass Rock - Firth of Forth landmark

It was a winter’s day in East Lothian but fine enough for a stroll along the shore at North Berwick. The merlin in the picture caught my eye as he pursued a rock pipit. It came out of the blue. He didn’t catch the wee bird but nonetheless I thought he should put in an appearance in the composition.

The Bass Rock, of course, is very much a landmark. It’s a volcanic plug, as most everyone knows, and matches the Berwick Law that rises behind the resort town of North Berwick.

The town itself is worth a look at any time of year and is popular with Edinburgh folk keen to sniff the sea air. There are cafes, galleries and other nice shops and the place has an altogether comfortable and well-to-do air. It even has a rail connection with Edinburgh.

About the Bass Rock artwork

As for the painting, this was done at a time when I’d moved on from water-colour - too nerve-wracking, to be honest - and started to use gouache. It’s more forgiving, as the colours are opaque and this means you can paint over mistakes!

Back then I’d soak the paper first, then let it dry and paste it down with that brown paper tape with the odd taste if you lick it to wet it. (Wait, too much information, I fear.) Consequently, the original painting has a brown strip on all four sides that does absolutely nothing for it, so has been cropped in the quality print you’d get if you fancied buying it…and you know I’d like you to. You wouldn’t be the first…

Oh, and these days I tend to use paper blocks pre-gummed all round, so no soaking is necessary. What a faff that was…Still, you're worth it....

Anyway, thanks for coming with me this far. We’ll visit some more places on other blog pages. Bear with me…

Iona - way out west

The Island of Iona

Painting Iona

Anyone seeking inspiration for painting Iona will start with Peploe and Cadell, two of the four Scottish painters collectively called the Scottish colourists.

They were influenced by the quality of light and the colour of sand and sea on the island. And much else that lies above my head for sure.

Anyway, reaching for Prussian blue, turquoise green and the umber number in the ‘earths’ range (ah, sienna), I have set off here to get a handle on those colours of sand, tide and rock that are especially associated with the island of Iona.

I’ve gone back to gouache with some Derwent Inktense crayon work…