small2010 - Exhibition coming up!!!

small2010 - Information of my latest exhibition can be found by clicking on the link: http://www.millyardstudios.co.uk/programme.htm

Weekend of contrasts

The view on a walk can quickly change from this....

to this....

I just love Autumn!!!

Meall a' Bhuachaille

I was about to post this blog yesterday but was called out on a rescue to assist a walker with an injured ankle on Copt Howe, Great Langdale. See the Langdale/Ambleside MRT webpage http://www.lamrt.org.uk/ and Facebook profile for more information about the team.

I've recently returned from a short visit to Aviemore where Autumn and the Spey Valley birches are on full display. The weather wasn't looking very promising for the afternoon so I decided to have a quick walk up Meall a' Bhuachaille before the worst of it came in. The winds built up to quite a strength so there wasn't any lingering on the summit. My interest was drawn to what was at my feet on the way back down through the woods. Here are a few piccys:

Between the Stones - Trailer

The trailer to "Between the Stones" can be viewed on You Tube by clicking on the link below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7qD2CS7HKg

The DVD can be purchased by sending a cheque for £10 including postage to:
Langdale /Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team
Lowfold
Lake Road
Ambleside
Cumbria
LA22 ODN

Between the Stones

A major filming project that has dominated my life for the past 3 years is now finished. "Between the Stones" is an insight into the work of a bunch of volunteers, the Langdale/Ambleside mountain Rescue Team. Being a member, my aim was to give an honest, realistic view on how we work as a team. It is now out on DVD and can be purchased from The Climbers Shop in Ambleside, or from the team website http://www.lamrt.org.uk/ all proceeds are donated to the team.

Two Dogs

Well done Nick Fayers and newly graded Search Dog Sam, proudly showing off the well earned green tag. I'm sure they will both look forward to many a foul night on the back of Crinkle Crags searching for missing folk. Meanwhile, success for myself and Einich is still a very small light at the end of a very long tunnel. Here she is enjoying the beautiful heather on Holme Fell
Happy Days!

The Yurt Gallery 2010

Here are a few pictures to illustrate the unusual venue for my last exhibition. It was held last week in The Yurt Gallery in the grounds of Rydal Hall estate. Despite the mixed weather (mainly dreech), I had quite a few folks passing through. The wood burning stove (below) made from a gas cylinder kept me going on the damper days. Thanks to Diane Standen, who owns the yurt. Diane runs her textile and workshop business for here.

Ross-shire

Mellon Udrigle sketch

The last week has been total hardship -Relaxing, painting, sketching, coastal walks, wonderful dawns and sunsets. We have been house and dogsitting in the land of big skies and fantastic light. Even the wet windy days have come up with some little gems as the rain clears to make way for new inspiration.

She must be getting better

For anyone who is following the progress of Einich the trainee search dog. I'm pleased to announce that we are now working through assessments. We still have a quite a way to go, at least 7 full days, it can go pear shaped at any time. Mick our training officer said "joy, just don't count them". Don't worry, I wont. Our assessment day on Saturday wasn't an easy one for Einich, or myself. It was quite a warm day with no becks in the area for her to cool down. I carried water and a collapsable dog bowl around with me. Despite the heat she still indicated reliably when she found everybody. I made a big mistake of not wearing the right boots on the hill, causing me to hobble in pain round the latter part of my last area. I really should have known better!!

My next assessment, all being well is in July.

Spring Backpack

Beinn Dearg Mor from Achneigie

Spring seems to have arrived all at once, it's only a month late! I left the Lakes in a heat wave to start a planned backpack in the Fisherfield area with a couple of two, and four legged friends with the hope of sketching and spending some time in the wilderness. Unfortunately planned trips never seem to work out for getting good weather. A few showers can bring special light to the landscape, especially with the fresh spring colours, however, these particular forecasted showers seemed to merge into one leaving no gaps to temporarily dry out. I'm afraid to say we walked out early. Karen volunteered to hitch back to the car while Pete and I stood in the damp with the dogs slowly getting midged! What wimps! Not all was lost though! after a night in the dry and a nice hot shower we were rejuvenated and ready for another day in the hills.

We did cheat a bit! This wonderful bothy (Location - I'm not telling) was too inviting so we took the opportunity to dry out.


The forecast was improving all the time so we had a day in the Fannichs. It was here we came across two very fit runners who where clearly enjoying the day. After a brief chat we found out one of them, Stephen Pyke was attempting to summit all the Munro's in 40 days to raise money for the John Muir Trust. This was day 36 and he was on target. With spring arriving late, he must have started out with quite a bit of snow on the tops. Progress of his amazing journey can be followed on his blog http://munros2010.blogspot.com, and the John Muir Trust website is www.jmt.org/home.asp

Stephen Pyke (Left)

A day in the office

I spent a few days with my sister Kathy who works as an Avalanche observer in North Cairngorm. There is still an amazing amount of snow, even for this time of year! Her job is to collect data by digging a pit in the snow and gather information, based on snow crystal type, snow temperatures, hardness etc, and use it to give an avalanche prediction for the area. This is done every day during the winter in all weathers, even on the windiest days. You can see here the depth of snow which is still around, in this snow pit she found about 7 different layers of snow type. For further information about the Scottish Avalanche Information Service go the the website: http://www.sais.gov.uk/

Training update

Dram and Einich

This weekend was spent training Einich under Striding Edge and the surrounding hillside. We made quite a bit of progress working larger areas to extend the length of time she works before locating a hidden person. Red Tarn proved to be quite a challenge, there where quite a number of onlookers, some unknowingly stood right next to the hidden person who was sheltering in a bivvybag (protection against the weather). I think they must have got a bit of a surprise when, what they thought was a rock started to move as Einich approached and stood barking next to it. A big thankyou goes out to all our very willing volunteers who give up their spare time to sit out on a fellside in all weathers.

Unfortunately I didn't take my camera so I have included a photo from last months training in the Cairngorms.

Still snowing in Cairngorm

Einich at work

February has been a month of travelling between the Lakes, Glencoe and the Cairngorms. We have been blessed with fantastic snow conditions and great weather. This last week I have been in the Cairngorms with SARDA (Lakes) training Einich to locate people buried in Avalanches. We had a group of hard working volunteers who didn't mind being buried in snowholes several feet below the surface and wait for the dogs to come and find them. The dogs located them by picking up an air born scent which filtered up from the snow, they then dig and bark to locate the source. It's great to see how quickly a dog can pick up a scent and home in on it. All the dogs did really well. By midweek a fresh snowfall arrived which was enough to closed the ski area for a couple of days. We seem to have been digging all week.

'Peat Light' Exhibition opening!

I'd just like to say a big thankyou to everyone that came along to view my exhibition opening last Saturday. It was a great success and very enjoyable chatting to you all! If anyone would like to go along to see my work, it will be on show in the Severn Studio, Brantwood, East of The Lake, Coniston, until 7th March 2010.

New Exhibition at Brantwood Coniston

This Saturday is the start of my latest exhibition "Peat Light", held in the Severn Studio at Brantwood, Coniston. There will be new work showing, many are of local scenes and some Scottish landscapes. It will be showing until 7th March 2010. For further details go the Brantwood's website www.brantwood.org.uk

Sketching in big gloves!!

Happy New Year. An Teallach from Opinan.

Dave, Einich and I spent the New Year in the Far North before returning back to Glencoe. The weather was a mix of blizzards and beautiful sunshine, but always well below freezing with a biting wind, bringing the temperatures down even further. Despite the extreme cold, Dave managed to stand for hours in the pursuit of the perfect photograph, and I managed to sketch in big gloves stuffed with handwarmers. Conditions underfoot was quite hard going, the soft deep snow meant we had to break trail most of the time. Luckily I managed to borrow some snow shoes which made walking a little easier, although it does help if you remember to bring your walking poles.! (I'd forgotton mine).

Einich in survival mode!

it's amazing how dogs can suddenly spring into action when a sandwich appears.