A Sunny Day, Ystradfawr Nature Reserve

A Sunny Day, Ystradfawr Nature Reserve is an oil painting featuring a walking path in Ystradfawr Nature Reserve that I have already painted last year from life in the summer.

I was really intrigued by the different colours and vegetation this season: lighter, brighter greens, little yellow flowers, and the sky peeking through the still quite bare trees.

Painted plein air.

174.
A Sunny Day, Ystradfawr Nature Reserve
Oil on board
12 x 8.9 in / 30.5 x 22.5 cm
9th April 2026

A Sunny Day, Ystradfawr Nature Reserve painting on the easel outdoors

Hilltop Trees

 Hilltop Trees is an oil painting featuring a view dear to me that I can see from where I live.

After a failed attempt because of the weather conditions, I returned a couple of days left to be welcomed by a lovely sunshine and beautiful cloud formations.

I loved the colours and the light.

159.
Hilltop Trees
Oil on board
6.1 x 8.2 in / 15.5 x 20.7 cm
4th February 2026

Photo of the painting on the easel outdoors

Sunshine over the Hill, Coronation Park, Ystradgynlais

 “Sunshine over the Hill, Coronation Park, Ystradgynlais” was painted on location in a new area I discovered some time ago above Coronation Park in Ystradgynlais.

Unfortunately, at this time of year it is not easy to walk up there, as much of the route is covered in marshy grass and mud. In the end, however, I found a lovely dry, sunlit patch of green grass from which I had a wonderful view.

149.
Sunshine over the Hill, Coronation Park, Ystradgynlais
Oil on wooden panel
9.4 × 7 in / 24 × 18 cm
25th November 2025

I began the painting using brushes, but then switched to a palette knife, which I used for the remainder of the work.

I really loved the rare sunny afternoon up on the hill. The colours of nature were vivid and varied, and the temperature was very mild.

Trees and sunlight

Trees and Sunlight is an oil painting that was started on location and completed in the studio.

It depicts a group of trees bordering a field in Ystradfawr Nature Reserve, captured in the afternoon when the sun was shining brightly on their foliage and the surrounding grass.

This strong backlighting created an atmospheric glow behind the trees in the foreground. As I was painting contre-jour, I found it difficult to see my panel clearly, so I worked en plein air as much as possible before finishing the piece in the studio, relying on my visual memory.

I particularly enjoyed the warm sunshine and loved capturing the light as it touched the still-green leaves and grass.

142.
Trees and sunlight
8 x 10 in / 20.5 x 25.5 cm
Oil on panel
13th October 2025

Photo taken on location.