Painting “St Mary's in September, Whitby”
Plein‑Air Painting – Oil on Canvas Panel
Whitby, North Yorkshire, England, UK
This was the largest outdoor oil painting I'd attempted at the time. It was painted on a glorious sunny day in September.
One of those clear bright days we often enjoy as the year winds into Autumn, here in the UK. Windy with a slight chill in the air, it was nevertheless a beautiful feel‑good day at St Mary's in Whitby, UK.
Bit of a painting battle, but a pleasant one
The wind was enough to force me into positioning my easel in the shelter of a gravestone. Once hunkered down, I was able to spend several hours on this landscape oil painting.
After a while, the chill in the wind did mean I needed to keep breaking-off to move around. In the end, I'm very satisfied this painting captures something of the sparkle to the day, character of the place, and the lofty aspect.
St Mary's in Whitby, Yorkshire
This really is an iconic place – the graveyard features in the Dracula story by Bram Stoker. It's easy to imagine a bleak and wild night here would inspire a scary story.
The day I painted this, though, could not have been more lovely despite the chill in the wind. The sun had a warmth and the church stonework reflected it. Seabirds gliding up the cliffs on thermals could not have been more chilled‑out – it was infectious.
Despite lots of visitors, it felt peaceful and tranquil. People's voices added to a contented background murmer, instead of distraction. While couples sat on seats along the cliff enjoying the view and fresh air, I was able to lose myself in concentration on the task.
I've more outdoor and studio landscape art featuring Whitby and the North York Moors nearby. Whitby is a regular haunt for me, because there's so much inspiration there.