The Spirit of Northumberland - Sycamore Gap

The idea for this painting came to me in the weeks after the tree’s destruction, though it took a bit longer than I expected to fully bring it to life. I tried to create an ethereal, almost ghostly outline of where the tree once stood—something that would capture the spirit of the tree rather than recreate it. I wanted it to feel like a memory, or an echo of the past, honouring the tree’s presence in a more abstract way.

The creative process for this painting started with small thumbnail sketches, where I played with different colour variations. These quick studies helped me fine-tune the mood before diving into larger compositions. As I progressed, each iteration brought me closer to the final image.

I experimented with the ghostly image using a technique that resembled pointillism and the painting began to take shape. When I finally felt the piece was ready to come to life, I dove into the final, larger work that will hopefully preserve the memory of the tree that once stood on Hadrian's Wall.

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