Living in Bay means the next few legs of the journey are local to me and I have revisited them many times, although the demands of the workshop and studio have slowed me down somewhat.
The next few years are an experiment in balancing ‘creative work’ and ‘paid work’ ….if I could get this right I would have the Holy Grail…..still looking.
Scarborough is now the nearest ‘Big Town’ for stuff you need to do. York being an hours drive over the moors.
For all its problems I have come to love Scarborough warts and all. As usual, situated on the North East coast Scarborough has had its fair share of under investment but it still holds its own in the bucket and spade league.
The slightest hint of a sunny spell will bring out a sea of windbreaks and deckchairs aflapping.
Walking along the front of the harbour serenaded by the sounds of the amusement arcades you may just see a fishing boat come in and deliver its catch to the quayside.
North Bay offers an exhilarating walk along the sea wall to the aptly named Watermark Cafe…….best bacon butty ever.
My favourite Yorkshire structure is the Spa Pavilion on the South Beach. Built in the 1880s by the victorians who knew a thing or two about bling.
The pavilion is grade 2 listed and is a gem. It has become a favourite spot for filming and photo shoots, notably the films Little voice and Dancing Queen with the wonderful late Rick Mayall.
The spa is famous for its daily summer concerts where you can pull up a deckchair and let the quartet serenade you hopefully in the sunshine.
The large painting I produced from the spa (almost a meter square) took a year to paint on and off.
I struggled with the complicated perspective of the band stand and checkered floor. It started to make sense when I included the deck chairs.
They became the ‘human’ element and gave it scale and maybe a little narrative.
I have revisited this subject many times and Im sure I will do again.
This is a water colour I completed 1n January 2019
