I spent  a very enjoyable weekend in August as Artist in Residence at the Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival . I was invited by Sam Barker and Joe Gibbs to attend the festival and produce drawings and paintings that captured the friendly spirit of the event. Camping on site allowed me to watch the whole weekend as it unfolded, and to spend time soaking up the atmosphere. The weather was kind to us, and the crowds at the outdoor stages were able to sit in the sunshine to catch the afternoon and early evening performances. I made the most of the walls and terraces of the garden stage to give me a good vantage point and to try and capture the comings and goings of the visitors – many of them family groups with children of all ages. I used watercolour, ink and mixed media to allow me to work quickly on location, changing to pastel and charcoal as it got dark and continuing until I could no longer see the paper I was working on.

Three of my paintings have been donated to the Archie’s charity, which supports children at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, and these will be auctioned at an event on 9th October.

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