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Islay
and Jura in the Inner Hebrides were the subject of a watercolour paintings
project for early summer in 2008 for John Stoa. This summer may have turned
out to be the wettest in living memory, but John's trip to the island
of Islay and Jura in the inner Hebrides was so hot and sunny that he got
quite sunburnt with cloudless skies every day.
The trip came at the end of May during the Islay Whisky Festival (malt
and music), with a visit to Ardbeg Distillery
where the best malts were available at only £1 for a very large
measure. Music and dancing were also enjoyed in the distillery courtyard
in blazing sunshine.
Ardbeg Distillery also have a fantastic and very popular restaurant where
John sampled the delicious local Islay beers.
Other whisky distilleries well worth a visit inclued Lagavulin, Laphroaig
distillery, also Bowmore,
Bruichladdich and Bunnahabhain
and the quieter but very distinctive Caol Ila Distillery near Port Askaig.
The island of Jura lies alongside Islay so a trip to Jura
Distillery was also arranged crossing over at Port Askaig where the
short ferry ride of a few minutes runs constantly most of the day. John
got plenty of ideas for landscape paintings of coastlines, distilleries,
small harbours and the Paps of Jura. Although many of these are now sold, there is still a few available.
John
and Anna stayed with friends in a Hebridean longhouse B and B at Samhchair
(Gaelic for tranquility), just two miles outside Port Ellen overlooking
Kilnaughton Bay with views to the Mull of Kintyre on the Scottish mainland
and also west to Northern Ireland. Hosts Maggie and Robin give a fantastic
welcome with breakfast from local produce to die for. Islay is a brilliant
Scottish island holiday destination and it's climate enjoys long days
of sunshine and low levels of rainfall. The Whisky Festival on Islay is
an
experience to remember.
I would thoroughly recommend a stay with Maggie and Robin near Port Ellen
on Islay with more information on their website at Samhchair
The journey from Dundee to Islay took John past Crarae Gardens, a perfect picture with rhododendrons and azaleas in fulll flower, then on to Tarbert with it's very picturesque harbour ablaze in the evening sunset. Several paintings were completed of both Crarae and Tarbert.
Please contact John if you wish to enquire or purchase any of these watercolour paintings which are mounted and wrapped but not all framed.