Summer

from Lawrence Quigley - Coast to Coast

Coast to Coast Lawrence Quigley

Although one would think that Summer would offer lots of sunshine and heat, in fact, some locations were pretty bleak and cold – with the weather just as changeable and unpredictable as any other season. You could literally have ‘four seasons in one day’. We don’t live in the South of France – and I do sometimes envy Cezanne strolling around his estate, knowing that that every day he painted Mont Saint-Victoire it will probably be the same the next day. Not so in the North of England landscape, which is what makes everyday interesting and challenging.

I based myself in three or four locations: near St Bees itself in Cumbria, Robin Hood’s Bay on the East coast, as well as a couple of North Yorkshire locations inland. With the longer evenings, I was able to work quite late – often experiencing some wonderful sunsets and richness of colours – particularly when painting the twilight sky.

The majesty of Ennerdale Water, with its mountains rising up from the lake was such stark contrast during the Summer months – all the different greens against the vaporous grey/purples of the mist and water, was quite memorable.

The colours of the sea and the moorlands tended to be more pronounced also, particularly towards early evening and twilight.

Locations (clockwise from top left):

Nethertown Station, Summer; Near St Bees, Summer; Robin Hood’s Bay, Summer

Photographs by the artist

Autumn

Strange, but sometimes early Autumn can have much brighter, uplifting weather than Summer… as it was at the start of the Autumn leg of the project.

The late September sunshine in Ullswater was a treat – as were some of the views and vistas discovered by climbing the nearby hills and mountains.

As well as an Ullswater base to work from, I also camped near Barnard Castle in County Durham, and stayed at Runswick Bay near Whitby and in the Yorkshire Wolds. I also visited Aysgarth Falls near Leyburn.

I liked the changing colours of Autumn – the golden hues and deep Indian reds against lime greens; also the bright orangey ochres and textures of the cornfield stubble or muddy hillsides, contrasting sharply against the evergreen trees.

The late sunshine of the twilight hours cast beautiful colour changes and lighting effects in the sky, with everything bathed in its soft warm glow.

The absence of Summer tourists often created an intense silence, stillness and beauty – letting nature take centre stage and speak to us. The only sounds you could often just hear was the cawing crows high in the trees or the rock face, or the sudden dart of a pheasant spluttering out go the undergrowth or nearby field.

It was pheasant season, and I must have nearly killed about a dozen of them on the lonely road near Bowes in Durham on several occasions. They secretly have a kamikaze death wish, I think. I love Autumn.