Moray Firth paintings usually reflect the unspoilt blue that dominates the seascapes hereabouts. Besides, thanks to the over-promotion of Highland initiatives like ‘North Coast 500’, the peerless Moray Firth coastline isn’t over-run, with the ‘average tourist’ preferring the wet desert of the far north and west. (OK, I exaggerate, but only slightly.)

Along the north-facing shore of the Moray Firth, you can definitely find a wee beach or rocky cove and be the only visitor to find it hereabouts. Just choose a good path through the spiky gorse that guards many parts of the clifftops. The picture below was an early gouache sketch. It’s probably where I realised I really could paint over mistakes – unlike that tricksy watercolour.

Moray Firth Paintings – a secret little beach

A lower angle than the picture above and also a couple of years later, this is a statement of my belief that the Moray Firth is bluer than most other sea inlets in Scotland – and I lived beside it for years.

(Oh, and one other thing: this is my favourite painting – I mean of the ones I’ve done, obviously.)

Painting the Moray Firth

North-facing coastline (I mean on the southern shore), big skies, cloudscapes and did I mention very blue? Yes, the Moray Firth is an inspiration at all seasons, which is why it appears – at least in the background – quite a few times in this collection.

It’s also a really good place hereabouts to study and practise drawing the shape of waves – the light is behind you usually and the sea is sure to have plenty of motion. (And much of it is off the beaten track – so nobody will be looking over your shoulder!)

Here is the day that inspired the Moray Firth painting.

Is Moray in the Highlands? Or is it part of the Scottish Lowlands?