Spring seems a long time arriving. The sighting of a Kingfisher in Argyll transported be to all the exotic places its brilliant plumage reminded me of and for a moment the world seemed brighter.
Seeking
A video poem inspired by the work of Emily Learmont entitled Sixteen Seascapes. Her work is dream like and of another world which prompted me to write this piece based on a seascape painting I had created a few years ago looking towards Danna Island in Argyll. Each is a vignette from the original but added to with items borrowed from my other art and photographic work such as boats, moonscapes and patterns of natural forms. The sixteenth image is the final painting.
Orkney Stories 3 - Cauldrus to Old Man of Hoy
When I first visited Orkney I cycled across Hoy to experience the famous sea stack The Old Man of Hoy. As I approached this giant toothy rock created by coastal erosion a helicopter landed on its summit for a brief few seconds and flew off. This to me, along with its ascent by climbers, epitomised the stacks slow, steady decline. Its still a wonder to see and others will replace it.
Echo
One of those moments where you catch out of the corner of your eye the space once occupied by an otter - almost imaginary, but that absence intensifies its past presence - as if hearing an echo in the water.
At the end of a lane
A photographic piece inspired by the Yorkshire artist , Peter Hicks, painting series The Entrance to a Lane, which in turn was inspired by the abstract impressionist artist Graham Sutherlands series of the same name. The work moves from winter to spring and aims to capture my curiosity and inspiration in the seasons.
Orkney Stories 2 Skara Brae
This is the second of nine Orkney Stories after my revisit to Orkney mainland in October last year following a ten year absence. Nowhere is the island's ancient self more more powerfully felt than at it's neolithic sites. This is about the 5000 year old village of Skara Brae located at the Bay of Skaill and only discovered in 1850 after a great storm uncovered it from the sand dunes. It is older than the Great Pyramids and that sense of time is powerful.
Blue Tears Fall
Dedicated to my pal Mary O'Toole ( always an inspiration) on her birthday. A video poem about climate change which will affect communities around the world. This is about vulnerable communities on the islands of the west coast of Scotland.
Orkney Series
I was delighted to revisit Orkney in October last year after a ten year absence. Its ancient self connected with its landscape struck me powerfully again and I decided to a do a series based on my reflections. This is my first one about a beautiful yet distinctly separate island.
The space between words
There is always a sense of the slowing down of time when mist emerges and rolls across water. This is enhanced when accompanied by silence. I caught this perfect scene at Scotnish in Agyll and formed the poem as I was recording.
Transition
The power of the turn of the tide always amazes me - the sense of wiping clean a slate. This is from one of my favourite locations in Argyll that I continue to be drawn to - the River Add estuary which has extensive sandbanks that stretch out into Crinan Bay. There is a powerful sense of being enclosed by water as the tide comes in - as sense of walking in a transitionary place.
Soft Bounce
Capturing the beauty of sounds and detail of winter bird activity
Green on Grey
Ive now updated this piece to allow a slower transition between each seasons
I have had the opportunity to record the change of seasons through image words and sound of a Beech woodland. I’m using this piece for my next workshop of Landscape of the Mind which is about Landscape and Time.
Rain on Rain
So much rain I cant help thinking about climate change
A Perfect Curve Breaks Down
Lochbuie, Mull welcomes the Atlantics most perfect curved wave.
Skaill
Another in my Orkney series capturing the mystery of the Neolithic village of Skara Brae that was buried by a storm and later exposed by another storm.
Death of a Season
Scotnish Connection
Its that time of year where every connection with nature and landscape makes you mourn the loss of spring and summer.
Pier Art Centre, Stromness
This is a wonderful piece of architecture - an insertion into the old harbour buildings of Stromness. The original building now converted once used by the Hudson Bay Company. Takes me back to Barbara Rae work from the arctic following in the footsteps of the Orcadian John Rae and his search for the North West passage. The collections is a wonderful modernist palette connecting two ancient cultures.
Lighthouses
Been having a bit of a journey around lighthouses recently. This one is Fladda Lighthouse with late autumn sun. The latest have been on Orkney and I will be posting new images about a recent trip soon.
Journey
Looking back to late summer and a journey to Coll where I captured the relentless driving force of a river on its journey to recycle itself into the waves
