Tranquility After The Storm near Durness

This glorious moment of sunshine arrived suddenly after a fierce wind pushed the storm out to sea. When the wind dropped to a gentle breeze I sat on a nearby rock to watch the crystal clear water lapping onto the white sand. This beach looked like a paradise surrounded by glowing rocks. The sparkling sand reflected the myriad colours of the intense light. Seagulls wheeled overhead crying out to each other and I looked up to see an unbelievably blue sky appearing. I sighed deeply and instinctively inhaled which delivered a strong salty smell . It made me smile and I suddenly realised this was the first time I had truly relaxed in a long time. There was such an atmosphere of tranquil peace and a sense of eternity. There was no-one around so I fished inside my soggy jacket for my sketchpad to capture the moment with its mood of quiet solitude. Back in Midlothian a few days later, as the rain hammered on the roof of the studio, I could only smile as I reviewed the combined charcoal sketches to restore the memory onto canvas to share with you.