Every Spring I travel to Upper Swaledale both to recharge the batteries and to paint. This year was a great success and I have returned with material for several oil paintings. The high hills of the Pennines are always fruitful for me, the combination of spectacular scenery and harsh weather makes for exciting but demanding subject matter. This year has been exceptionally wet and the rivers and waterfalls are in full spate. Illustrated here is my first oil study painted in Birkdale on the road over the tops from Muker to Kirkby Stephen. More will follow.