Ferry Port Iona

This is another painting inspired by my recent stay on the sacred island of Iona. Sunrise on the empty ferry terminal before the day tourists and pilgrims arrive.The painting is acrylic on canvas and is 60cm x 50cm

Findhorn Original Garden and the Cat

Every Saturday members of the Northern Lights Sangha meet for a morning of meditations. I quite often join them and it is always wonderful. One of the meditations consists of walking slowly and mindfully around the Findhorn Foundation's Original Garden.

The garden is a delight, an eclectic mixture of wild flowers, vegetables, fruit trees and cultivated flowers. Now whether you believe that the story of giant vegetables on extremely poor soil is a myth or not, it is absolutely undeniable that there is a terrific energy here.

Almost always during our walking there is a zen like black cat in the garden. He is completely unfazed by the 15 to 20 humans walking around his domain and just gets on with his business. This mostly consists of just being, although he is not adverse to the odd stroke and ear tickle.

It is sobering that we, advanced beings supposedly, have to make a constant effort to be in the moment and yet for this cat it is effortless. Is he affected by the gardens energy I wonder?

Traveling Dolphin

My good friend Bryan is continuing with his camper van murals. He has completed the back and is working on this side. It is beautiful and always raises smiles and lifts spirits. In these days of increasingly dark and violent news we need to be reminded that the vast majority of humankind is decent and generous.
To view Bryan's web page and art go to http://www.baj-art.co.uk/a1-page.asp?page=0

Blue Poppies

As the summer draws to a close I wanted to celebrate the extraordinary exuberance of this years floral growth. Is it my imagination or has everything grown more strongly as if to make up for last year's lack of sun. Even the bees are making a comeback! I also read that Red Squirrels have increased for the first time in 50 years. This is a watercolour size 36cm x 26cm

Red Tractor

Just playing with a fun abstract while waiting for inspiration. Acrylic on canvas 50cm x 40cm

Last Swim

 On Saturday a dwindling number of the members of our informal swim club took a bracing swim in the icy waters of the Moray Firth.
In Buddhism we are constantly reminded of the impermanent nature of existence. The arising of certain conditions give birth to something and then dissolving when those conditions no longer exist. Therefore given that the conditions drawing us to swim in the icy Scottish waters may be changing, this could be our last swim of this year! We are also reminded to be in the moment so accordingly we enjoyed every freezing minute. Hopefully conditions will arise to draw us into the water again. Perhaps next year now!

Mini Poppy Prints

This painting of poppies has been so popular that I have been selling mini prints ( 6" x 4" ) on ebay.co.uk where I have a shop and they have been selling well. The original has been sold but if you would like to buy one of these small prints at only £3.50 go to www.ebay.co.uk and search for Chris Gaunt or go to this direct link http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Light-Water-Art
If you would like to view some of my other work go to www.chisgauntartist.co.uk

Innocent child.Innocent nature

I have been on a bit of a road trip for 10 days. visiting friends and family. My furthest distance from Scotland was Frome in Somerset. This was a long overdue visit to my niece Vanessa and her mother Belinda. So good to catch up. Then back up to Northampton to see my step brother Maurice and his wife Margaret. Finally on to Norfolk to catch up with my extended family including my son Julian. This picture is of my granddaughter Isla and mum Vicky. She is so beautifully, mischievously innocent.The photo below is the river I used to frequent in my boyhood and I sat there yesterday with my son. We both like sitting quietly observing and feeling the beauty and innocence of nature.