Hills and Hollows (2026)

Original media: Inks, acrylics, gouache, watercolour, pencils, gold leaf and gold thread.

The Cleveland Way is one of the shorter national trails, beginning in Helmsley in North Yorkshire. The path takes you to the coast at Saltburn by the Sea, and then all along the coastal path to Filey Brigg. In May 2025 I ran the whole path over the course of a week. I was on my own for most of it, then joined by my best running friends at Whitby for the last couple of days. I carried a little running pack with everything I needed for the week on my back (I wasn’t camping!) and the smallest drawing kit in a pouch on my front. I stopped to draw whenever inspiration struck. I took photographs too, but mostly the paintings are based on the sketches.

This painting sums up days 2 and 3 of the Cleveland Way. Not far out of Osmotherly the path begins to climb. It climbs through bluebell woods at first, and then up to Beacon Hill and up to Scarth Wood Moor, where I sat and drew this. Ahead is an endless line of lumps and bumps; of steep ups and even steeper downs. Roseberry Topping can be seen far in the distance.

Available as a signed limited edition print, hand-finished with gold leaf and gold thread. All prints are mounted and can be posted, unless purchased framed.