Castle Acre Priory. (© M. Cull-Dodd.)
The Priory is one of the many monastic ruins in Norfolk like North Creake or Binham that hit me deeply in my heart and soul. I visited it first about 20 years ago and have always felt uplifted by its majesty and setting in the rolling valley landscape. This painting was from a photo taken about 8pm on 1st May 2005. It was unusual to be there then as I tend to visit the place in January or August. It'd be good to paint it again at those times. A photo is unusual as a starting point for me but very useful. I tend to work from a pencil or charcoal sketch and then make colour notes on the sketch to put into a painting. I paint with acrylics because the colours and speed are more to my liking.
More of my work is viewable at www.warwickshireartists.co.uk
You can contact Michael at: cull_dodd2002@yahoo.co.uk
Castle Acre, Castle Acre Priory, NHER 4096