Beyond the Linn of Dee: Wild Grampian (Original)

Beyond the Linn of Dee Watercolour

I was drawn along a track one sunny afternoon by the splendour of the countryside beyond The Linn of Dee west of Braemar. I found myself in a scene of natural beauty that was carved out by Mother Nature following a destructive gale the previous winter. The warmth, quietness occasionally broken by the honey bees, sun, shadows and shallow colours set a backdrop for a watercolour painting that I was determined to create.

The Painting

I started by washing in a light sky with French Ultramarine blue. I then sketched the panorama to include a depth of field by drawing the naturally damaged trees of various sizes and shapes. I laid in washes using Vandyke brown, raw sienna, sepia, yellow ochre, Paynes Gray, and Lamp black but no strong greens.

By setting that base and by omitting certain details, the landscape emerged as representative. I introduced the rock as a silvery grey and the watercolour came alive.

I felt pleased with the final painting.

Background of the Area

The River Dee rises in the Grampian mountains at the Pools of Dee and flows south down the Dee valley then turns due east through the Linn of Dee to Braemar and along Royal Deeside to the City of Aberdeen passing the Royal Estate of Balmoral, the villages of Ballater, Aboyne, and Banchory on its way. It is a world-renowned Salmon fishing river and its waters provide drinking for the villages and City.