Iona Abbey

Background

Iona Abbey is a spiritual and historical landmark located on the small island of Iona off the west coast of Scotland. This 6th-century marvel is renowned for its exquisite medieval architecture and has attracted pilgrims from all over the world for centuries.

Some years ago, my wife and I went on a holiday to the west coast of Scotland. We visited Staffa, with its famous Fingal’s Cave, and then went to the Island of Iona. It was a calm, warm, and sunny day, which made for a beautiful backdrop to the Abbey and its associated buildings.

The community dedicatedly rebuilt the Abbey after the Second World War on the site of an original monastery built by St. Columba and his monks in the sixth century. The Abbey is said to be the birthplace of Scottish Christianity and is a peaceful and remarkable place.

I am proud to have traced one of my family lines back to St. Columba.

The Painting

To capture the essence of the buildings, I spent some time sketching the proportions of the structures while looking eastwards. I also took several photographs of the colours before they changed, so I could incorporate them into my painting later on.

Using pen and ink, I highlighted certain parts of the buildings and left them to dry before starting the painting process. The key to this watercolour was layering washes of different colours over the various areas of the painting, allowing each layer to dry in sequence. The light brown colour of the stone in the area was particularly important to get right, and I applied it carefully, partially drying it before blotting it out with tissue to create the right texture. The sky, on the other hand, was light and subdued, to ensure it did not detract from the beauty of the buildings. The grass was a mix of sap green, yellow ochre, and light brown to create a subtle surrounding for the Abbey.

End Result

The end result was a watercolour that I am incredibly proud to have painted, and I am completely satisfied with the outcome. This painting of Iona Abbey sits in perfect synergy with my watercolour of the island landscape that I painted last year, as both capture the natural beauty and rich history of this stunning location.

Painting Information

Prints
Size	Image Size	Cost	Mount Size
	(mm)		(mm)
A6	132 x 84	£10	202 x 154
A4	255 x 175	£25	375 x 295
A3	380 x 280	£40	500 x 400
Originals
A3	380 x 280	From £350	500 x 400

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