It wasn’t intentional –  really it wasn’t! We headed north with our trusty caravan for a mellow week cycling in the Peak District, on to the Lake District and then visiting friends and family in N. Ireland. No need for air con, just lovely, and no shortage of inspiration…a few of my thousand plus photos below…

Peak District, Lake District, Donegal and N. Ireland

Cycling the Monsal Trail, cruising on Derwentwater, another whirl along the Wild Atlantic Way strolling on lovely Portsalon beach, and Castlerock Strand (N.I.) towards Mussenden Temple at sunset.

And below, Antrim coast dunes (SSI), gale force above Downhill Beach, checking out ‘Peatlands’ habitat (SSI)

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And the Art – a summer of speedy sketching…

My sketch book has certainly been filling up over the summer, many coastal scenes predominating. The amount of time spent on each sketch (not a lot!) was generally dictated by how much patience my travelling companion had! So I certainly have a wealth of sketches, of memories and stories to put into paint across the winter.

(Speedy but very rewarding! Incoming tide at Castlerock beach County Antrim, overlooking Lough Foyle towards Donegal and beautiful Portsalon beach, Donegal.