PITCALNIE

Acrylic on paper (sold)
Gael Hillyard 2021

This painting is inspired by the hamlets and communities where I have lived in the Scottish Highlands. I have attempted to distil the feel and look of the sky and environment of the area using colour and texture, and have kept the style minimal to reflect the wild and remote, and often lonely aspects of the settings. Pitcalnie, considers the open skies, that are often bright blue during the day; a reflection on the unique meteorological aspect of Easter Ross – which has, apparently, the lowest level of rainfall in the UK. The area surrounding Pitcalnie is agriculturally rich, especially with exceptional malting barley which is used in world class whisky production locally. The deep golden fields in the painting reflect this while the reddish overtones reflect the warmth of the light. The small house is an amalgam of local buildings, including its Second World War watch towers, and particularly Nigg Old, a beautiful candle-lit church built in the 17th Century. The austere grey form is also a nod to its 8th Century Pictish Stone, and its small size. The small window and door takes you into a space that is dark, and mysterious. Finally, hazily in the bottom left corner a shadowy indistinct form wades through the fields with lantern and staff; homage to the tales of the many spirits that cross the land and visit the houses.