Painting “Paragliders at Danes Dyke, Early July”
Plein‑Air Painting – Oil on Canvas Panel
Dane's Dyke, Flamborough Head, Bridlington, East Yorkshire, England, UK
These daring paragliders with their brightly coloured sails will no doubt pop up in my paintings around North Beach and Dane's Dyke, near Bridlington, again
Painting at Dane's Dyke is a hugely pleasurable experience – especially on quieter days.
The epic vista, it's openness, and ever still serenity (even when more crowded) creates a feeling of peace and distance from life's hurly-burly. The phrase 'able to breath' comes to mind.
It's south facing aspect protects this beach from many cold North Sea winds. Any heat from the sun bounces around off the blinding white chalk cliffs giving the place a warmth and mediterranean feel.
I've been on this beach when the sea has been an unbelievable vivid blue, and you'd think you were in some southern European idyll. Truth is, we've lots of places equal to anything on offer elsewhere on the English coast.
As well as the ambiance, this place has several unique characteristics which I've spoken of elsewhere (Chalk cliffs, bird sanctuary and ancient earth works). Suffice to say, there's a lifetime of paintings waiting in this location.
A popular beach, you park up in the ancient Dyke, and stroll through dappled sunlight down to these sands spread out below. The whole experience of a day out here is a tonic.
I tried unsuccessfully to paint down on the beach, before coming up on to the top of the cliffs overlooking it – it works that way sometimes.
The day was one of those undecided days weather-wise, but warm and pleasant all the same. There was enough wind for the paragliders to be out, but not enough to bother my easel – perfect.
I completed this painting in the afternoon. The weather had by then decided it was half hearted in the end, though there was still a sparkle dancing on the sea and a breezy warmth throughout.
The people on the beach were laid back with hardly any noise floating up the cliffs to me. It was a chillin' kind of day, and I moseyed home feeling pleased with this oil painting. Back in the studio, it needed nothing doing to it, which is unusual.
I've made linocuts and other paintings of views from the tops of these cliffs, and it's likely this painting will inspire more. The more you look, the more you see.