Playa Honda Lanzarote

Landscape Watercolour of Lanzarote, 15" x 11" on Saunders Waterford Rough Paper 140 lbs

Playa Honda is situated right next to Lanzarote's Airport, but it's actually quite a quiet place.  Along the sea front runs a winding promenade and an unspoiled mainly sandy beach.  Half way along is a small group of what I guess are fairly old local buildings right on the beach and some weathered boats tethered to the railings.

Bristol Waterfront 1

Landscape Watercolour of Bristol, 15" x 11" on Saunders Waterford Rough Paper 140 lbs

A subject closer to my home and the Bristol waterfront area.  This was once about 30 years ago, more like an inner city dockland area - somewhere you would definitely avoid at night.  Now it's been very well developed with waterfront apartment blocks and many bars and restaurants, popular at nights and weekends.  This painting was based on a photo taken after the annual harbour festival when the whole area takes on the feel of a marina with all different sizes of boats and yachts.  I suppose the main challenge of the subject was to simplify it with the many lines and background detail that was there.

Rent a Car office, Puerto del Carmen, Lanzarote

Landscape Watercolour of Lanzarote, 15" x 11" on Saunders Waterford Rough Paper 140 lbs

Steps leading up to a Rent-a-Car office along the main coastal road in Puerto del Carmen in Lanzarote.  The subject attracted me for the geometric patterns of the steps and the shadow cast across them, and also for a slight change in perspective looking up to the focal point of interest rather than it being at sort of eye level.  The deep red terracotta tiles of the steps were also quite striking.

Potato Fields, Lanzarote

Landscape Watercolour of Lanzarote, 15" x 11" on Saunders Waterford Rough Paper 140 lbs

A quick study of a typical potato field on the Island of Lanzarote.  Potatoes are one of the main crops on Lanzarote and they're a great local specialty tapas - Canarian Potatoes or wrinkly potatoes, served with spicy mojo sauce.  Because the whole island is a series of dormant volcanoes, lava rock is in plentiful supply as a crushed black mulch for the crops, keeping the moisture in, and a building material for the boundary walls around the fields.

Hotel Playa Sol, Cadeques

Landscape Watercolour of Cadeques, 15" x 11" on Saunders Waterford Rough Paper 140 lbs

One of the many little secluded beaches to be found along the coast of Cadeques, and a great location for this Hotel with its' balconies overlooking the bay in front.  Known as the Spanish Saint Tropez, it's not too far from the French border, but has still been able to maintain it's Mediterranean 'fishing village' charm without feeling like a resort.

Arrecife Promenade, Lanzarote

Landscape Watercolour of Lanzarote, 15" x 11" on Saunders Waterford Rough Paper 140 lbs

A scene of the long promenade running along the coast of the capital 'town/city' of Arrecife, and here, just by the marina, it's constructed of wooden boards, aged and worn by probably the foot traffic and winds off the sea.  The pyramid roof on the right is a popular bar frequented mainly by the locals.

Municipal Market in Lagos Portugal

Landscape Watercolour of Lagos, 15" x 11" on Saunders Waterford Rough Paper 140 lbs

Located facing the fishing port, this building was built in 1924 to originally house just the towns fruit and veg market but was also devoted to selling fish in the last 1950's. The wonderful selection of freshly caught seafood is housed on the ground floor while fruit, vegetables, freshly baked bread, and an open-air terrace with restaurant can be found upstairs.