Original Watercolour 15" x 11"

Cumberland Basin Bristol, looking across the harbour to the Nova Scotia Pub and some old dock workers cottages.  To the left, the basin widens out and curls round into the very heart of Bristol.  A few years back, the waters here were very dirty and you wouldn't want to fall in it by mistake (think you could catch Wiels disease or something like that).  That's all changed now, the water is much cleaner and at weekends, many people are spending time afloat.  You can't drink it though.

Original Watercolour 15" x 11"

Old Town Las Palmas, Gran Canaria.  Las Palmas is the capital of the Canary Islands and 9th largest city in Spain. The Old Town definitely has the old colonial look and is the authentic Canary Islands.  Many ancient ficus trees provide valuable shade from the sub tropical sun. 

Original Watercolour 15" x 11"

The lighthouse in the Old Town Puerto del Carmen is not really anywhere near the sea, and not even a proper lighthouse, but serves as a useful landmark if you've just arrived here and lose your bearings. In the foreground is a typical road junction or roundabout made up of tiny chips of brown volcanic rocks - the main building material on the island.  There's pretty much an unlimited supply of the rock as much of the island is covered with extinct volcanos.

Original Watercolour 15" x 11"

A part shady street in old town Puerto del Carmen looking up towards the top of town and the shopping mall called the Biosfera, which offers 4 floors of shops and bars.  To me a bit out of place so near to the old town, but handy if you need your Mango/Zara fix while on holiday.

Original Watercolour 15" x 11"

Arrecife, which means actually ‘reef’, holding its name from the many volcanic rock reefs lying offshore and protecting the harbour, is the capital of Lanzarote.  I wondered about this little roundabout and the ancient dragon tree (endemic to the Canary Islands and like a multi branched yucca-like tree) planted in the middle which could easily have been a couple of hundred years old - was it there before the roundabout?

Original Watercolour 15" x 11"

Puerto Banus, was built in May 1970 by José Banús, a local property developer, as a luxury marina and shopping complex for the rich and famous, just down the road from another well known resort of Marbella.  This is the West end entrance to the Marina area, looking towards the west and a horizon of different palm trees and spiky yuccas.   Only harbour property owners or boat owners can gain access through the barricade here.  It's a great spot to see some pretty luxurious cars and possibly see a celebrity or two?

Original Watercolour 15" x 11"

More back streets of Faro, and when the sun's out it's great to try and catch a sense of the warm colours of the buildings here and the dark shadows cast by the bright midday sun.  Well it's just an ordinary street in Faro and great fun just capturing the moment.  I think on the left of the painting was a building site behind a hideous wall of dirty boards, but gave me an opportunity to try my dry brush strokes.

Original Watercolour 15" x 11"

Step back a few blocks from the Marina, and you come across many little pedestrianised areas of shops, bakeries, cafes and restaurants.  Watch out for the massive canon-ball like bollards forming the demarcation of pavement to road - I tripped over one and it's painful.