Boats at Saltford lock.

A couple of plein air visits to watery places in recent weeks.

The first here was done from a tiny island on the river Avon at Saltford lock, looking downriver and towards the light.

The second is an early morning view from Bristol ‘floating harbour’, with a huge red-brick bonded warehouse in the background. Further on (in the background to the left here) is the working boatyard known as the Underfall yard. It’s a bit of a walk down there, so I hadn’t been before, but I wish I had! I decided to paint where I did because I’d already walked a fair distance without anything very inspiring in view. Far better compositions awaited ahead though, which is where I met up with some other painters for the day. It was pretty grey, and the sun not yet up while I painted, but then rain came out and lasted for the next couple of hours.

Bristol harbourside and bonded warehouse.

I ended up holding umbrellas over Paul Weaver and Tim Wilmot as they painted the view back up towards where I was stood here.

I’d thoroughly recommend a visit to Bristol’s Underfall yard for painters. As well as boats, related paraphernalia and water there are some nice old buildings in an interesting arrangement, and several nearby pubs that do good food. The only thing is parking is not too easy, if you need to drive.