“One afternoon in mid-winter, sheep graze contentedly in fields overlooking Inver Bay in the Northern Highlands of Scotland and the North Sea beyond.

SUBJECT - The low-lying light of the early setting sun picks out snow-draped buildings in Lower Arboll, around which stand proud and erect the distinctive shapes of Scots pines. A whisp of smoke trails from one of the chimneys, leading the eye to Gallow Hill and on to Mains of Arboll. Tarbat Ness Peninsular rises gently in the distance, while the full moon sparkles as it glides across the winter sky.

COMPOSITION - At first sight the golden sphere of the moon might be mistaken for the sun, but on closer inspection the light catching the landscape and the sheep proves the sun is actually positioned to the right of the viewer. This is late afternoon, when the rising moon, low in the winter sky, catches the light from the dying sun. The challenge here was to capture the many colours of the snow as it moves from cool shadows into shimmering light and from the foreground into the distance.

METHOD - these Masterworks oil paintings are created using my unique method, a method based on traditional techniques, which are progressively worked through in layers from dark-to-light; a process that cannot be hurried, nor short-cuts taken. First, the underlying thinned colours of the underpainting, next the impasto stage, with glazes and tints used extensively to enrich and subtly enliven the oil painting – it is through these techniques where the ‘art’ of oil painting comes into its own.

As always, we thank you for reading and watching, with best wishes from Eileen and myself,”

Paul Taggart

Artist : Author : Presenter : Producer