The River Dee in Twilight
Remembering my Mum Through Art
This painting is born from a moment that completely re-anchored my relationship with the Scottish landscape. Recently, my family and I travelled to the banks of the River Dee to scatter my Mum’s ashes, a positive and emotional farewell in a place of immense peace. Standing by the water as the day waned, the line between grief and beauty blurred and I knew the only way I could truly process the weight of that was to bring the essence of the place to the canvas.
Capturing the Twilight: The Story Behind My New Scottish Riverside Painting
There is a brief but magical moment at the end of the day when the landscape holds its breath. On a recent trip to the heart of Scotland I found myself standing by a quiet riverside just as the sun began to dip below the horizon. The way the cool water mirrored the shifting sky completely captivated me and I knew I had to bring that moment to life on canvas.
My latest painting, an 80 × 60 cm acrylic on stretched canvas is the result of that inspiration.
I wanted to move away from my normal landscapes and instead capture the pure emotion of a river scene and create the atmosphere and depth of the beautiful setting. Painted in an expressionist and impressionist style the artwork relies on blended brushstrokes and a deeply layered colour palette with bold textured brushstrokes, to convey the energy of the moving water and whispering trees. Rather than just painting what I saw, I painted how I felt about the river and the day.
The true heart of this piece lies in its contrast. Whilst the setting represents a hint of the dusk deepening shadows and cool atmospheric undertones, I infused the sky, the horizon and its refections with mesmerising warm tones. Rich ambers, soft ochres and touches of yellow break through the twilight gloom casting a radiant glow across the water’s surface. These warm hues create a striking focal point inviting into that serene glowing moment in time.
This canvas was a joy to paint and a nice departure, demanding both spontaneous energy and careful balance to get the light just right. It is officially finished and ready to hang and find its permanent home.
Title: ‘Enchanting River’
Medium: Acrylic on stretched canvas
Size: 80 × 60 cm
Style: Impressionist
Shipping: Available for purchase. If this piece speaks to you and you would like to bring this memory of light into your own home, please contact me directly via email here for pricing and shipping enquires.
Thank you for allowing me to share not just my art, but the deeply personal story behind it.
Meet the artist:
I’m Mary an independent abstract and impressionist landscape artist. I’m based in London and my paintings are deeply inspired by the changing natural light and dramatic seasonal horizons. I build rich, blended layers to capture the emotional mood of a landscape. My original pieces hang in private collections around the world bringing a calming energy into homes and interior spaces.