I’ve just returned from another week in one of my favourite parts of Northumberland – the area between Embleton and Beadnell. The weather was largely kind, allowing me to spend time studying the coastline at different times of day and in different conditions.

Here are a few of my studies…

Sand makes an excellent brush holder for working en plein air!

Sand makes an excellent brush holder for working en plein air!

Day 1: Familiarisation

A bright morning at Football Hole. Deep shadows and contrast.

A bright morning at Football Hole. Deep shadows and contrast.

Dunstanburgh Castle through the dunes.

Dunstanburgh Castle through the dunes (SOLD) Giclée prints are available of this painting

Dunstanburgh Castle colour study.

Dunstanburgh Castle colour study. (SOLD) Giclée prints are available of this painting

Day 2: An early start

Up with the lark to paint the sunrise over Low Newton bay.

Up with the lark to paint the sunrise over Low Newton bay. Herons fished, and waders called (SOLD)

Reflective sea and hard rocks with orange lichen.

Reflective sea and hard rocks with orange lichen.

Ducks at Low Newton Pool and a silhouette of Dunstanburgh Castle in my little pocket sketch book.

Ducks at Low Newton Pool and a silhouette of Dunstanburgh Castle in my little pocket sketch book.

Study of rocks and lichen.

Study of rocks and lichen.

Chalky distance on a hazy day.

Chalky distance on a hazy day.

Day 3: A long walk

A long walk to Dunstanburgh Castle, so took my lightweight kit – watercolours and graphite. Sand added interesting textures. It was a showery day and dark clouds loomed overhead.

A long walk to Dunstanburgh Castle, so took my lightweight kit – watercolours and graphite. Sand added interesting textures. It was a showery day and dark clouds loomed overhead. (SOLD)

I love the life that watercolours have – you can control them to a point, but the magic happens when they are aloud to make their own marks.

I love the life that watercolours have – you can control them to a point, but the magic happens when they are aloud to make their own marks. (SOLD)

Beach huts on the dunes near Low Newton.

Beach huts on the dunes near Low Newton.

Day 4: A warm and windy day

The distinctive sweep of Beadnell Bay on a bright but windy day. Sorrel, grasses and coltsfoot.

The distinctive sweep of Beadnell Bay on a bright but windy day. Sorrel, grasses and coltsfoot.

Working on the beach on a very windy evening created an unintentionally textural painting!

Working on the beach on a very windy evening created an unintentionally textural painting!

Study of sea colours and reflection.

Study of sea colours and reflection.

Day 6: Colour

After a wet day yesterday (day 5), the sun came out again and the colours shone.

Colour study. Morning.

Colour study. Morning.

Colour study. Morning. A shift in tide and light conditions. Some directional lines added for reference back in the studio.

Colour study. Morning. A shift in tide and light conditions. Some directional lines added for reference back in the studio.

Beach hut in the dunes.

Beach hut in the dunes.

Moon shadows. A walk on the beach under a full moon. Bright reflections, curlews calling, long shadows on damp sand.

Moon shadows. A walk on the beach under a full moon. Bright reflections, curlews calling, long shadows on damp sand.

Day 7: Warmth

Coltsfoot, red clover, plantain and thistle.

A bright, warm afternoon. Sheer cliff and orange lichen. Gannets and male eider ducks dived for fish offshore. Shags stretched their wings.

A bright, warm afternoon. Sheer cliff and orange lichen. Gannets and male eider ducks dived for fish offshore. Shags stretched their wings.

‘Northumberland Sketch Book #2’ is available to buy from my online shop

Please contact me if you are interested in purchasing any of these works on paper. They can be provided unmounted, in mounts ready to frame at home, or framed.

Contact Kate