27th June 2026
I wrote in my journal that i wanted my paintings to be like and earthy primordial essence of an unknown wild spirit , that my Aphantasia is like the underworld where nothing is known but everything is potential vitality, nourishment and wisdom which all is required is to add water and intention then everything becomes known. It is the letting go of the desire of needing and letting them find a place which may or may not support me.
I had an abortive walk early Tuesday trying to get to Sidwood to find some trees and see whether it would be potential 2027 place to visit every month. It was scorching hot even at 7.30am and the prospect of another hill , i am sure it was not on the map decided that i ought to instead of walking 5 miles there , drive around to where the wood is. Then on Wednesday i went to Simonstone to find rocky out crops to paint , the trip was just to find some and hopefully find some trees to photograph but i spared myself in this heat walking up the ridge to the out crops.
It is so nice having hot weather , even for a proper northerner but especially a respite from the constant rain this year. Stella is surviving the hot weather and found a space in the cool and where she can have some quiet time.
Bull Crag Peninsular
I love this photograph , it feels like summer picnics and lazy days in the sunshine with summer flowers sparkling. It is in a lovely position beside the reservoir where there is a feint breeze to ward of the midges and its is good to sit down and take in the energy. As my meditation teacher used to say , “nothings to do - nowhere to go” . See what comes up within you when you stop without purpose and just breathe in like you are nature and not in nature.
I think we all have our own version of heaven and the universe strives to match this in our life and when we pass on. This right now is my earthly heaven with Stella ( the cat) beside me. The senses are divine with wafts of scents , luxurious colours , sounds of birds and bees and beautiful forms gracing our path.
It is only going to get even more lush in July and as someone who cannot recall visuals i am blessed with this wonderful surprise each year. When i am there i recognise old friends and realise why i loved them so much , the bloom on the trees are majestic and the tiniest of white flowers populate patches of the verge are fun. But , i am in anticipation of the Cow-Parsley with their bold structures holding the most delicate of white petals.
Bakethin Nature Reserve
Green is often consider boring and difficult to photograph. It is only difficult to photograph when you make a picture with a need for the outcome to be liked by others that do not love nature or are hyper critical of how they think photograph should be. Make photographs from your heart , they need not be anything more than a moment of joy instead of an attachment of being enough. Go back to the same place and capture its moment throughout its yearly cycle , make friends with it and your attitude transforms from being an commodity to delight. Green is never boring !
I am wandering between the intimate flower petal and little stories of plants bustling together like its a busy high street on a Saturday. You cannot try too hard as your mind turns against you covering up the open awareness and innate love of nature. You just let go of needing and wanting into being and everything begins to shout out - me , me , me.
Imagine a bunch of industrialist or technology billionaires in charge of creating a planet like this ? I think we all know what it would look like , nothing like it is. But we allow them power ! The greatest data centres we have is nature , a living breathing conscious planet full of beauty and awe.
I trust the delicate flowers , trees , and creeping brambles to keep me alive as their gift to life is never a grift. Nature holds us unconditionally. Isn’t it something to listen to when we return back to nature , reduce those hours of serving a cult , get rid of the baggage which keeps us trapped as then we begin to heal naturally.
It is the diversity which captivates me of almost infinite possibilities of life manifesting from earth. Where did it come from and why that colour and plant intrigues my curiosity. Some dangle like lanterns whilst others stand tall and erect , others have the most striking appearance whilst some so delicate you could miss them.
Then the multitude of Ferns and i lose myself in wondering how peculiar and strange this planet really is. That very thought brings alive the necessity of being yourself regardless what others think. Be true to yourself , find out what that really is and means and then just boldly shine out.
Remember it is only when you try and compare or compete with something else that the contrast causes pain. Just radiate yourself as yourself and the universe shall hold you.
In the Wild , Painting
Hareshaw Linn
I have such a strange relationship to yellow as it is often in my paintings and i love yellow flowers such as this beautiful yellow buttercup but anything else , like clothing and i am disliking. I am so pleased that everywhere in late June is flooded with yellow there is something which i cannot put into words which connects me to them. When i see them i feel a warmth inside of me , a feeling of glee and comfort.
Everything now has filled out with foliage peppered with colours and i expect that feeling is timeless after a long winter waiting and waiting for new growth. Spring surely is the beginning of a new year and i would of thought that the arrival of the birds to awaken the trees filled hungry with delight.
Even with so much abundance our ancients knew that not all was for them and without ensuring all were fed they knew that next year would be a lesser year. Our ancients understood the mysteries of the planet and were given the original instructions to ensure sustainability. How can these people be less civilised than modern industrialisation ?
