Seasonal Offer: Two for one!

Now it’s that time of year again and we’re counting down the days, let me help make your gift-buying a little bit easier.

Buy any limited edition print at full price in the usual way. Then add a note – or message me separately – stating which print you would like in addition, absolutely free.

The additional print must be the same value or less than the one you’ve bought.

Prefer an original painting? Browse through these posts for any which I still have for sale. Arranged the purchase and add any print (of equal or lesser value) absolutely free! (In the case of originals there may be an extra postage charge for the print if it needs to be sent separately).

Wishing you warmth and joy as we approach the winter solstice.

New print available

Limited edition prints of this large original pastel are now available. This edition measures approximately 10″ x 14″ and is printed on watercolour-style, textured paper. I’ve remamed it ‘Moody skies, far North’ as although it’s Balnakeil beach, it’s fairly typical of a Hebridean or West Coast beach in general, so it can be anywhere you’d like it to be!

The photo here is a little darker than the image actually is.

The first run of prints is just ten copies, so don’t delay!

Picture Shack is 30!

In April 1993, Picture Shack was born, in physical form, into its first gallery in Achiltibuie. Living on the island of Tanera Mhor at the time, I would come across every day on the fish farm boat which came to pick up, and then drop off, workers from the mainland. Opening Day was planned for a Saturday; unfortunately, being still early in the year, a severe gale blew up and I could not attend my own event, and it was thus postponed until Monday. On arrival at the new gallery I found a bunch of flowers and bottle of champagne on the doorstep with a ‘good luck’ card.

Indeed, Picture Shack was a lucky enterprise, and it’s now a big, fat 30 years old. Although it’s taking a break from physicality, it reserves the right to reinstate itself somewhere down the line if it ever feels so inclined. In the meantime, to celebrate its birthday, I am offering this painting of Suilven in the form of a silent auction.

It is many years since I dabbled in acrylics but I recently felt the desire to give them another go. While they can’t replace watercolours or pastels in my heart, I had fun with this first experiment and the colours are a lot more vivid than in most of my work!

‘Suilven, late summer’ is acrylic on board; unframed, unvarnished,

12″ x 10″ (25cm x 30cm approximately)

If you would like to bid for this painting, send me a message (via the contact form or email) and whoever offers the highest amount by Friday 30th of June will receive the painting.

June 30th update: The auction has now finished, and this painting will be winging its way to New Zealand very soon! Thank you for your bids. Better luck next time!

Original of the month, May

Clashnessie commission

The Original of the Month is back…

Clashnessie Beach, pen and watercolour

I sat on the rocks on a beautiful, if blustery day to sketch and paint this small commission.

It is now SOLD, but I hope to be painting more regularly during the summer.

Do you have a favourite view in the northwest Highlands? Ask me to paint it for you!

Mounted (unframed) watercolours around £125 including UK postage.

Original of the month, January

Cam Loch pastel

Cam Loch, late summer

Pastels on card

This pastel painting depicts Suilven as viewed from the east (Elphin) side as you walk along the shores of the Cam Loch, perhaps prior to climbing onto the Ledmore-Lochinver track. The colours are of late summer when the grasses are just beginning to turn golden, the heather is coming out and the lochs are a vivid indigo.

It’s currently on sale in ‘Lochinver Landscapes’ gallery in Lochinver but if you would like to reserve it you can do so via the contact form.

Size approximately 60 x 23 cm

Double-mounted in ‘antique’ white and framed in a modern, flat, dark grey wooden moulding

Framed price: £450 Price does not include delivery. Painting must be collected or delivery options discussed.

Seasonal Offer

Achmelvich sketching

From now until December 15th I’m making a special offer for anyone buying a print or original.

For every item bought you can choose one of my limited edition prints absolutely FREE!

Purchase two gifts for the price of one. Buy any print or featured original that is still available on this site, choose which print you would like to receive as a free gift and send me a message with the title. I will send both your purchase and the free print in the same package.

The rules:

  • The value of the free print must be equal to or less than the value of the purchased print/original.
  • The free offer applies only to prints worth £60 and below. Prints with a value higher than £60 can be purchased at 20% discount along with any other item at full price.
  • ‘Achmelvich in summer’ is excluded from the offer

There will be no extra postage charge for the free print.

Original of the month, October

Storm brewing pastel

‘Storm brewing, Loch Broom’

Pastels on card

This pastel painting is so hot off the press it isn’t framed or even signed yet!

Executed rather more quickly than most of my pastels – it was today’s demo for students attending my pastel class – it has a fresh quality, whilst still featuring my trademark clouds.

The view is looking towards Sail Mhor and Dundonnell from Coigach, the highest summit of An Teallach obscured by early autumn storm clouds.

Size : Approximately 19″ x 12″

Framed price: £380 Collection from Lochinver or Ullapool, or possible delivery (by arrangement, extra cost) only.

Original of the month, September

‘Quinag, September’

Pastels

The eagle-eyed will have noticed the absence of a July or August Original of the Month and for this I hang my head in shame. The summer has run away with me and I have simply not had the chance to do any new paintings, although I have run two courses and a workshop!

While digging around in the studio for some paintings to exhibit in Kylesku (as requested), I came across this one from a couple of years ago, which I had forgotten was there.

The vivid golds and greens that we enjoy at this time of year contrast beautifully with the deep indigo of the lochans; this one is at the base of Quinag, a few hundred meters from the main path.

Size approximately 39cm x 24cm

Double-mounted in antique white and framed in a chunky distressed, faded gold to complement the colours in the pastel.

Price £340, framed. Price does not include delivery.

As before I can not send large pastels and they should be collected from Lochinver or delivered, by arrangement; costs and logistics to be discussed.

Please use the contact form or send an e-mail to enquire about this painting.

This painting is now SOLD

Original of the month, June

‘Heather Time’

Pastels

I have decided to part with the original of ‘Heather Time’, the limited edition print of which is for sale in the ‘shop’ section.

It’s always lovely to own an original if you can stretch to it, even though the print is of very good quality.

This is one of my favourite views in the world, across Loch Broom towards Dundonnell from Achduart in Coigach. The light on the Dundonnell and Fisherfield mountains never stays still, and in late August, when this painting was conceived, the purple carpet of heather tones perfectly with the indigo darks of the hills. I love the simplicity of this composition and painted it several times in different sizes; previous, smaller versions were sold in my Achiltibuie gallery. Perhaps you are the proud owner of one of them!

Size approximately 39 cm x 26cm (excluding frame)

Pastels are sold mounted and framed and would need to be collected from Lochinver or delivery arranged as they are too fragile to be posted in the usual way. Where there’s a will there’s a way, however and if you would like an original pastel we can discuss how I will get it to you.

Price: £ 350 (not including delivery)

Original of the month, May

Stac Pollaidh across Loch Sionnascaig

Watercolour and ink sketch

Painted on the same expedition as ‘Suilven from Loch Sionnascaig’ (March), this was painted in the early morning as the sun was beginning to feel warm on the small, pink sand beach where I was drinking my breakfast coffee. It shows Stac Pollaidh from a more unusual angle although ‘she’ is still uniquely recognisable. The reflections in the almost-still loch were tricky to capture but I gave it my best shot before paddling back in my kayak.

Size 12″ x 9″

Price: £98, mounted in ‘antique’ white (unframed). Price includes UK postage.

Please use the contact form to purchase this painting (or any of the others still available in the Specials section).