Purple haze, Durgan

Painted on Arches Huile paper, with a deep pink ground, protected with a clear wax coat, mounted on board and framed with a St Ives tray frame in white wood which measures 8cm.

This painting will be part of the St Ives Society for Artists Spring Open and on display at the Mariners Gallery until 7th June. Please contact the gallery if you wish to purchase this painting at The Gallery Manager <stivessociety@btconnect.com>

This is another of my favourite scenes on the Helford, the distinctive headland as you look out from Durgan. The route to Grebe from our house takes us past this point, and I always stop to have a look. There are tidal puddles on the shingle beach at mid tide, and these reflect the sky and carve patterns into the grey sand. The light before sunrise gives this already special scene a real sense of atmosphere. It is a scene unchanged in centuries, and I imagine the early morning fisherman stood here surveying the weather and tide. Dawn creeps around the corner of this headland, the river mirrors the sky, the glow of the water can be seen as you descend the path through the woods that lead down to the village. In the half light, the shadows and clouds take on a smoky purple hue. I have used layers of translucent oil paint mixed with cold wax to create the shimmering effect of the sky and the water, and the title is unashamedly borrowed from a classic Jimi Hendrix track. It is another in my collection of “Light fantastic” paintings. 

If you wanted to buy any of my Light fantastic paintings as a pair the price would be £1300, or for three paintings £1800, please message me.