“Safe Ashore” Aberdour Harbour

2024
Acrylic on canvas
Framed, 49cm x 59 cm (19"x23")
As often, I did a quick sketch onsite (see drawings) - it was a chilly autumn day - and worked on the full painting back in my studio.
I seem to like strong diagonals and, here, the firm line of the quay is echoed with the softer diagonal of the shoreline and the remains of the the old pier at Hawkcraig reaching out across the Forth. The warm sunlight brought out the autumal colours in the trees and reflections, complementary tones in the soft silvery blues in the water.
 
Aberdour is a pretty village, just down the coast from me with an active boat club. At this time of year many of the boats had been drawn up onto the quayside, safe ashore for winter.