"The Little Wooden Bridge"

A high quality giclée print, professionally produced on solvent 220gsm matt premium paper, size 16" x 12" to take the common size of 20" x 16" frame, and the print is signed.
 
My love of hiking was the inspiration for this painting, during my journey to complete summiting all the fells of the Lake District. ( I still have a handful to climb yet) 
And on one such day I had been hiking high on the mountains, coping with strong winds buffeting me for most of the day. So as I descended the peaks and out of the wind, it was a welcome relief to find myself in this calm scene at the foot of Burnbank Fell.
 
At the time, I had no intention of painting this vista, I was more interested in a sandwich and a cup of hot Vimto than a painting scene, But for some broken cloud, it was an overcast day, the light was dull, a typical day in the Lakes, But the colours in this light were amazing. strong vivid greens of the grasses, Pine trees and stunning heather set off a beautiful contrast to the light stone trail and of course that all important bridge. 
It was so peaceful sat looking at this view, I just had to take some photos, the place was so calm, and quiet. The sound of trickling water from “Holme Beck” running under the bridge was the only sound to be heard. The stream, surrounded by long grasses disappears from view as it descends to the lake below. Pine trees, stand proud on the steep sided fell. The view looking north beyond the trees picks out Darling Fell with it’s unique patchwork of Heather and Bracken which adorn the hillside. this just encapsulates what the Lake District is all about.
When I viewed the photo's back home, I was inspired by the old wood which was to me, just full of character. I loved the fact that this bridge like so many, has had thousands if not millions of boots pass over it, in all seasons, like battle scars, slowly eroding it away, but still strong enough to hold that weight and more. I wanted to capture that erosion in the painting, with moss weathered splited ends, the result of many a hard winter endured.
Capturing the contrasting hardend stone trail along it, but at the same time joined as one. The bridge and path enables those boots to pass over the beck to continue their journey through this stunning landscape. The hillsides rich in heather and bracken, who knows what’s around that next fell. Can the grass be any greener there ?