At the end of last week there came a very powerful swell from the south-west. It pounded onto Marloes Sands continuously; it was only strong in St Brides Bay at high tide, because the tide race around Skomer acts very noticeably as a “tidal valve” where swells are concerned. Thursday afternoon, I took the sketching gear down to Musselwick Mouth; Friday early afternoon I pasted up a copy of the sketch and decided on a 2:1 format and found a suitable panel; Friday later afternoon I was painting on location, getting blown about with spray because the waves were larger than on Thursday and coming in like express trains… Freer than my usual style, I admit; but this was no occasion for fiddly work, and I had to finish the picture in one go! Keep scrolling down.
