Making Art Inspired by Whitby & Scarborough
Both of these classic seaside towns have everything
Whitby
Whitby has it all for a painter‑printmaker, from the point of view of country, coast, city, and sea. The town has drama and character, as well as a typical seaside resort atmosphere on sunny summer days.
The beach to the North of Whitby harbour is perfect for donkey rides, building castles, and strolling along the water's edge.
Though Whitby's a bit of a trek out onto the coast miles from anywhere, it's always worth it. Bad weather up there can be dramatic, while sunshine at the seaside is always good.
Then there's the North York Moors and the North Sea that Whitby sits in between – that's if you ever tire of the town, harbour, abbey, beaches, and cliffs.
Scarborough
Scarborough is a picturesquely composed seaside town, with its castle on a hill over a harbour, and wide sweeping bays.
Its Victorian hey-day is very much present today, with its gardens on high steep slopes above South Beach and huge stately Victorian homes.
Then there's North Bay with its waves where surfers play, Valley gardens where families stroll, and the grand vista of curving cliffs topped by Victorian B&Bs.
The castle with Henry II's massive tower, built between 1159 and 1169, is a compositional gift for any artist.
And as if all that's not enough, Whitby has Dracula and Scarborough has Anne Brontë.
There really is more art to make than there are hours in the day. Inspiration is a nag, always finding new things for me to do, and demanding more‑more.