I like to take a holiday over the summer solstice to make the most of the long summer evenings before the earth starts to turn towards Autumn.  This gives me more time to explore old and new haunts and where possible immerse myself in midsummer celebrations.

A couple of years ago I went to the Northumberland coast line, taking in the sights of Holy Island, Lindisfarne, Sea Houses, Berwick Upon Tweed. I was presently surprised at how white the sand was and how blue the sea is.

This year I went back to my favourite haunt, West Penwith in Cornwall.  Here the sunsets are a myriad in colours, ranging from pale yellow, orange, pink, lilac, purple and blue.

I have sat on the cliff tops at Pendeen and watched the sun slip below the sea on the longest day. Here the twilight seems to last for ages and I have been up on the moors by the side of ancient monuments such as Lanyon Quoit at 11pm at night and there is still a glow in the sky from day that has just been. This is a truly magical time of year.

I have noticed how the colour of the sea changes as the angle of the sun in the sky moves through the year, with midsummer being at its highest point. The sea in Mounts’ Bay at this time of the year is a sparkling sapphire. Deep ultramarine blue.

The hedgerows are in abundant with Foxgloves, Red Campion, Mouse Ear Hawkweed and Ferns to mention a few.  Home grown strawberries are being sold on wayside stalls. Sweet and juicy.

The Golowan Festival in Penzance is held at this time of the year. A week-long celebration of music, processions, a fun fair, market stalls, climaxing in Mazey Day, where local schools in the area hold several carnival processions during the day.  Unfortunately, I had to travel home on Mazey Day, but this year I attended the Torch Light Procession in Penzance and Penglaz made an appearance.

Nick my cousin, who lives in Marazion, has got a stall this year at the Marazion Craft Market. We have gone into collaboration with this stall, me supplying my art as prints and original pieces and Nick has sourced a local glassblower to make hand blown glass baubles to his specification, based on the colours of the beach and mounts bay.  If you in this area on a Wednesday & Thursday between Easter and September, please come and visit. There are other crafts people here too and a lovely café that sells homemade cakes and savouries. This is my first foray into selling my art to the general public and I am happy to say that people have been purchasing my prints and we have sold one original ink on watercolour of St Michael’s Mount. This is have given me encouragement to continue with my art journey.

Here are some photographs of places that gave me inspiration and sketches.