Original Watercolours by Tim Wilmot

Florence, Italy

Landscape Watercolour of Florence, Italy, 15" x 11" on Bockingford Rough Paper, 140lbs

This was a bit of an experiment. Unfortunately I have not been lucky enough to visit Florence in person (although I studied it's architecture for my 'A' levels a long time ago), so I succumbed to the resource of Google Maps and Street View.  The challenge of course is the camera taking the shots is far higher than normal eye level so you need to compensate on the perspective a bit and the image was a bit shady so I had to invent my own shadows  and people of course! Hopefully I did the scene justice.

Shire Hall Bodmin, Cornwall

Watercolour 15" x 11" on Bockingford Rough Paper 300 gms

Shire Hall, Bodmin, with it's imposing solid granite front facade, and a little square in front, was built in the 1830s to house the county assize courts (criminal courts). The courts were moved to Truro in the late 1980s and the building now houses the town Tourist information centre. Had to get the cornish flag in there with the white cross on a black background. The bunting was out I think for the Olympic celebrations.

 

Old Town Faro Street 2

Watercolour 15" x 11" on Bockingford NOT Paper 300 gms

The perimeter around the citidel in the old town area of Faro has a great collection of all the styles of period Portuguese architecture with wondeful hues of ochres, yellows, dark terracotta roof tiles and bright white-washed walls. The odd Phoenix palm breaks up the lines and throws shadows on the walls.  

 

Eivissa harbour, Ibiza 2

Watercolour 15" x 11" on Bockingford NOT paper 300 gms

A bit more of an experimental one here but trying to use all the main techniques of watercolour: A wash on the sky and left hand building, a bit of negative painting on the parasols, wet in wet (always a bit risky, but then you let watercolour do it's own thing) and dry brush strokes.  I think if I did this painting again, I would make the deep shadows between the buildings a bit fresher and use less strokes.

 

Mudanya, Turkey, 3

Watercolour 15" x 11" on Saunders Waterford Rough Paper 300 gms

Mudanya's a prosperous, vibrant town siting on the southern coast of the Marmara Sea (the bit that connects the Black Sea with the Mediterranean).  The wonderful old houses here in the centre of town are characterised with their upper floors being larger than the ground floor.  Not sure why, or whether it's the Greek style, but it makes an interesting subject and offers great shadows for watercolour.

 

Vegetable seller, Alexandria Egypt

Watercolour 15" x 11" on Bockingford NOT Paper 300 gms

An anonymous vegetable trader down an anonymous street in Alexandria.   Apart from the focal point of the stall, I wanted to also capture the essence of the beautiful ochre-coloured building behind with it's turquoise shutters and the confusing myriad of cables running above your head (I would hate to be a telephone engineer there).  This painting allowed me to try out my new Nicholas Simmons Escoda size 20 brush - a synthetic brush with great holding capacity and a very sharp point.  The brush easily dwarfs all my other brushes.  Apart from the figures, I did the whole painting with this one brush.

 

Alvaro Castagnet Course Painting #5 - Whitby

Watercolour 11" x 15" on Saunders Waterford Rough Paper 300 gms

Our painting trip to Whitby brough the sun and the day trippers out.  The sight of our party of 14 painters all grouped together doing 'Plein Air' certainly attracted on lookers peering over your shoulders and normally positive comments for all of us.  I thought the street scene here with the bunting helping the perspective, made a good composition.  Just had to get the Fish and Chip sign in as there's plenty of them about in Whitby!

 

Alexandria Port entrance, Egypt

Watercolour 15" x 11" on Bockingford NOT paper 140lbs

Alexandria, second largest city in Egypt and situated in the North West of the Nile Delta.  The location of the port entrance is a magnet for eager city taxi drivers and horse & carriage owners looking for fares from visiting tourists.  At the time of my visit, the whole area was being excavated with huge new sewage pipes being laid, so not looking really at its best save for the gleaming mosque with it's bright white facade and golden dome.

 

 

Borough Market, London

Watercolour 15" x 11" on Bockingford paper 140lbs

Borough Market in Southwark, London. One of the largest food markets in London and a hive of activity at lunchtime with tourists and office workers.  Borough Market's gourmet food market consists of up to 70 stalls and stands. Producers from all over the country bring a range of fresh produce to the market, including fish, meats, vegetables, ciders, cheeses, breads, coffees, cakes and patisseries.

Fish Market Uskudar, Istanbul

Watercolour 15" x 11" on Bockingford paper 300g

Just as you get off the ferry at Uskudar on the asian side of Istanbul is a wonderful fish market (Balikcilar Carsisi in Turkish) located in a dark tunnel going through the middle of a large building.  You could almost miss it as you walk by, but your eyes are caught by some brightly lit stalls showing the fresh catch of the day.  The main challenge with this painting was the curved ribs of the roof support and the decision to either not bother with the detail or concentrate on the perspective. I think I sat on the fence on that one.