CASTELL Y WAUN/CHIRK CASTLE, CLWYD, CYMRU/WALES This is a rather fascinating, squat castle, commanding a stunning view that melts into a blue distance. There is a feeling of timelessness about the scene – and not a single pylon in sight. BEN ARKLE, SUTHERLAND, SCOTLAND The October light on this Sutherland mountain was very special. The only trouble was that I couldn't finish the painting in one day and the same light never came back during the two days it took me to complete it. Normally this particular mountain, as with most others in the area, is swathed in mist, so I had to work from memory. MOURNE MOUNTAINS, COUNTY DOWN, NORTHERN IRELAND In order to be reasonably considerate to those inevitably concerned with security, I painted this scene from a photograph, which was a great pity because I would have loved to paint it from nature. At least, in a photograph, the sheep in the field remained conveniently in one place, and the light didn't change either. DERSINGHAM, NORFOLK, ENGLAND This is one of my favourite views at Sandringham, looking out over the marshes towards the Wash. It was a particularly beautiful light on a January afternoon, and would have been perfection had I not been interrupted by several inquisitive people armed with intrusively long camera lenses. DOLWYDDELAN, GWYNEDD, CYMRU/WALES It took me rather too long to find a good spot from which to paint this view, the result being that I very quickly ran out of time to do it adequate justice. With such limited time, at least it didn't rain...