From Water to Summit: Painting the Lakes & Fells Graham Twyford's Overview Series
- Barrow Society Of Artists
- Apr 6
- 3 min read
With the imminent better weather calling people back to the fells in our fabulous Lake District, I though, now is the time to do a series of blogs on this fantastic feat by Barrow Society of Artists, Art Advisor and Acclaimed Local Lakes Artist Graham Twyford.
On my recent visits to the Artist's art studio I got to view his Overview Series of Paintings. I was enthralled at the work and detail that has gone into this trilogy of paintings, and Graham's description of what was actually in the paintings. In this blog the main painting of the, Borrowdale Looking South, Overscope is dissected into detailed parts for you to see for yourself the content in this painting.
I have left Graham to narrate the contents in his paintings himself as its a fascinating story of passion and detail for what he sees when he walks and climbs The Cumbrian Lake Districts familiar places of outstanding beauty.
Today we cover the painting Borrowdale Looking South painting above... Marina
Castle Crag (With Millican Dalton's Cave)
The Overscopes are intended as generally accurate overviews of well loved walking country including narrative elements and an eagle eyed clarity with perspective enhancement.
The close up of Castle Crag features Millican Dalton standing in the cave which he made his home for decades. Millican Dalton was, or is now a legendary Lakeland eccentric who gave up the 9 to 5 drag of London to live in a Borrowdale cave. Existing on strong coffee and Woodbines.
He Styled himself "The Professor of Adventure" guiding posh Toffs on expeditions in the Lakes and Alps. He was a pioneer in handmade outdoor kit and climbing gear. Its him rafting on the Derwent in the next clip from the Overscope painting. (Zoom in to see this detail if your on your phone or small screen)
Grange and the Bowder Stone
The Viewing station of the Borrowdale Overscope is high above Grange. Taking in the foreground detail includes the famed double span bridge over the Derwent with tourists. The Professor of Adventure is rafting through. The Bowder Stone is brought out in the woods beneath Bowder Crag.
Wheels of Fire Rock Climb with Millican Dalton Leading
The Overscope paintings often reference outdoor activities associated with the locations, as here with the well know rock climbing route "Wheels of Fire" on Bowder Crag.
Again Millican Dalton is seen out of time leading an ascent - the likeness is based on a classic photo of the Lake District eccentric. The close up also reveals some of the watercolour techniques and pencilwork used to bring out this image.
Stonethwaite
For the Overscope the distant side valley of Stonethwaite is brought into clear focus. Seen from the viewpoint above Grange, Eagle Crag would look quite small in perspective and usually pale with reduced detail - how I would conventionally paint it. Now its true scale is given more emphasis - more diagrammatic and map-like.
Fairy Glen (great swimming pool with turquoise water) would not be visible but I tried to summarise how they might look if you could glide over for a closer look.
When the painting was nearly finished we walked the route in glorious sunshine to see how it compared. There were hoards of Ghyll Scramblers jumping in the waterfalls and Tongue Pot and apart from one or two tiny omissions I was delighted with the accuracy. Research was then underway for the follow up "Helvellyn Ascent" - more pesky footslogging in the Lakes- somebody's got to do it.... Graham Twyford
Next Blog covers the Helvellyn - Ascent from Patterdale and Glenridding via Striding Edge - Overscope painting including some coverage of the techniques used to create the paintings. See you soon. Click the link to go directly to Graham Twyford's web site to order prints or contact the Artist: https://www.grahamtwyford.com/
Blog By Marina
in collaboration with Graham Twyford
For Barrow Society of Artists
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