Staithes, North Yorkshire

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

This is the quant little footbridge joining the two halves of Staithes Town on the beautiful North Yorkshire coast.  I was lucky enough to have pleasant sunshine when I was there last year.  The river here is the primary subject for many visiting artists, especially at low tide and featuring the old rowing boats which are almost a trademark of the town.

#saunderswaterford

Cadeques Town Centre looking towards the hills

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

Cadeques on the Costa Brava, looking towards the centre of this town and the hills beyond that surround and shelter the location.  I think the church tower silhouetted against the darker mountains worked well as do the understated white washed buildings in the middle ground left.  Might have controlled the washes or altered the timings on the clouds ad mist coming into the hill tops.

Via Dolorosa, Jerusalem

Landscape Watercolour of Jerusalem, 15" x 11" on Saunders Waterford Rough Paper 140 lb

The Via Dolorosa (Path of Sorrow or "Way of the Cross") in Jerusalem is the route tradition says that Jesus followed from his condemnation by the Romans to the spot where he was buried after the crucifixion.  Now you’ll find the street can be noisy – with venders vying for your attention calling out their wares. Old stone buildings rise up on either side, and instead of a tree-lined country lane, seemingly endless stone steps ascend through the city. 

Fishermen, Alexandria Egypt

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

A study of some fishermen attending their nets or maybe discussing the day's campaign.  Close to the main harbour in Alexandria and towards the citadel there's many types of boats congregated together, maybe for the shelter here or maybe it's proximity to the markets nearby.  I tried to convey the heat here of the midday sun and the not so blue colour of the sky, which many times in Egypt has an ochre tinge to it maybe because of sands blown in from the South.

Ilfracombe Harbour, North Devon

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

Ilfracombe harbour is the largest harbour on the North Devon coast and has been an important port for several centuries. It's a busy place with still some small commercial trawlers coming in and ferries off to other Bristol Channel locations. This view is looking up the hill (that shelters the harbour from southerly winds) and the town centre to the West.

Olhao Marina, Algarve, Portugal

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

The busy marina at Olhao (pronounced "oll Yow") on the Algarve and the pier stretching out to the main ferry point for the islands in the Ria Formosa natural park. Olhao. This is the biggest fishing port on the Algarve, and if you ignore the shabby appearance of the town centre there's a great daily fish market here on the waterfront and loads of restaurants along the Outubro Promenade serving fish and shell fish dishes.  I am gradually getting used to the Saunders paper now away from my usual Bockingford and doing wet in wet on Saunders is a hell of a lot easier.

Alexandria Street 13, Egypt

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

Alexandria has to be one of my favourite subjects for watercolour - it's perfect for the medium with the light, the contrasts between light and dark, and perfect compositions with the typical street scenes.  I'll have to go back some time and take hundreds more reference photos cuz I'm running out.