Washing Day at High Paradise Farm – Card

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.

The Cafe at High Paradise Farm is mentioned in all the guide books for the walk. It's a little haven where you're not expecting it, and just before you go onto the vast and empty paths of the North York Moors. Unfortunately it's closed on Mondays (so glad I had that sorbet at Sutton Bank) so what I got was the washing line full of aprons and tea towels from a busy weekend. There was also a lovely little dog that came and sat on my feet as I was drawing.