Paintings from the Spey Way

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 View from The Croft, Elgin, oil on card, 10 x 12 cm  SOLD

 Elgin Cathedral, oil on card, 10 x 12 cm  - available

 The Spey Bay, oil on card, 10 x 12 cm  SOLD

Fochabars, oil on card, 10 x 8 cm   AVAILABLE

 

Gatehouse to Craigellachie Castle, oil on card, 10 x 12cm   AVAILABLE

Ballindalloch Castle, oil on card, 13.5 x 10 cm - available

Houses, Moray, oil on card, 10 x 12 cm  SOLD

Arndilly, oil on card, 10.3 x 13.2 cm     available

The Spey near Ballindalloch, oil on card, 10, x 11 cm  SOLD

I spent a week walking the Spey way. I walked up to the Spey Bay from Elgin, the followed the river down to Aviemore, getting lost a few times and spending the night in various Bed and Breakfasts and hostels.

Painting-wise the trip was good, but the romantic idea of walking and painting as I went, was less happy in reality.

This is because:
1. carrying a rucksack- which happened to break on day two is very tedious
2. my shoes started to cut very badly into my heels
3. Scotland in the rain is not a good place to be when you are walking on a hillside
4. packing and unpacking  every night and morning gets annoying.

Better conceived was the Christmas trip to the mountains earlier this year, when I stayed in the same place and made daily excursions with just a little bag.

 I shall adapt trips in future to this model. It means one has the chance to do a reconaissance of a place, then return to where is good. If one is following a linear track that doesn`t happen, unless one walks back- something which i find psychologically well nigh impossible. It also is better socially because you can get to know people sometimes at your lodgings, and it is nice to chat to someone after a solitary day painting.

Anyway, as regards painting, I am happy: here is a little selection- more can be found on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tadeuszderegowski/sets/72157627338763566/with/5989683743/

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