Arriving on a sunny day, the majestic Torridon Hills seen across the water from the small village of Achintraid showed themselves in the best possible light. So I set to work immediately and started to paint by the side of Loch Kishorn, one of my favourite places and one we returned to later on during the painting course.

We were again lucky with the weather this year with just one rainy day in the beginning, which was happily spent painting in the spacious studio. The following days we were able to venture out and enjoy painting the great 'outdoors'. A definite highlight was our trip across the high mountain pass to the very secluded cliffs beyond the village of Applecross. A stunning location to paint and on whose stony shores I have spotted Sea Otters eating freshly caught fish.

A special treat was waiting for us on our last day, when we painted the stunning surroundings of the gorgeous new house, set by a nearby Loch and built by the daughter of our hosts Gillian and Mark Pattinson.

As usual Gillian and Mark made us feel extremely welcome in their own home overlooking Loch Kishorn. The food was again a real culinary treat, finishing off a highly creative and enjoyable week with a night of fish food, haggis and bag pipes. I could not have wished for more and preparations for another course next year are already on the way.

"I thoroughly enjoyed myself and feel that I learnt a lot."
"It was the best painting holiday I have been on."
"A wonderful course. It was all I had hoped for and more with your excellent teaching and patience."

After a short stay in my home in London I will be off again to the rolling hills and seaside of Devon. I am looking very much forward to seeing friends and colleagues at Coombe Farm Studios and to meeting everybody taking part in the course on the 17th July.

Have a great July with good painting weather, Bettina