Diary of my painting travels – Entry one…

Bonjour Bonjour! Some of you who follow me on social media (Instagram or Facebook) may have noticed I'm once again on my travels.

I set off a couple of weeks ago from Craven Arms in Shropshire with a heavy suitcase and rucksack. I ended up having to pay for extra luggage, hardly surprising with so many sketchbooks.

I flew to Carcassonne and was greatly relieved to be met at the airport by my lovely friend. We drove southwest to the Ariège region of the Pyrenees.

Having arrived in the dark I had no idea what awaited me in the morning with the most spectacular view of snow capped mountains. I was totally in awe and couldn't wait to unpack the paint.

This was a 'first' for me and I felt quite intimidated by the enormity of the shapes and textures of the terrain.

I was keen to explore my immediate surroundings and get a feel for this remote part of the world. The light and nature is so uplifting. There's no shortage of inspiration with mistletoe on ancient trees and wildlife.

My friend discovered some Fly Agaric toadstools in one of their fields. I managed to clear a space by cutting through some of the thick briars in order to get as close to them as possible. I found an old tyre to sit on and relished in mixing the vibrant reds and scarlets.

I am looking forward to the coming weeks and sharing my paintings with you....have my eye on a creamy coloured donkey.......Bliss.