The night the sky turned into art

Croyde Bay as I'd never seen it before...the sky lit up in hues of emerald and magenta.

Spirals of light dancing across the sky and reflecting over the waves. Surreal, beautiful and absolutely magical!

This was Monday 19 January in the evening and approaching 9.30pm. We'd just finishing watching Stranger Things (finally caught up!), and had promised ourselves an early night ready for work and school the next day.

I picked up my phone and opened up Facebook. Something I've been trying not to do after 9pm! And by chance the first thing I saw was a photo of Croyde with a red sky blazing over Baggy Point.

The Aurora Borealis was right here in North Devon!

Our daughter was already tucked up in bed, but this had been on my bucket list for too long not to grab the chance!

So we bundled everyone into the car wearing PJs and Dry Robes and headed for the coast!

Driving through Saunton we could already see the sky lighting up with a bright green beam that looked like an emerald tornado swirling down towards the ocean. It was unlike anything I'd ever seen and was such a surreal experience.

As we travelled around the headland to Croyde, the reds came into play, glowing scarlet and magenta, and lighting up Baggy Point with the most gorgeous glow.

The shapes created by the pockets of light were absolutely dreamy, and have given me so much inspiration for my paintings.

When I paint, I love to emphasise the colours I see in the sky. Viewing strong colours glowing above the landscape in reality really was a dream come true!

I have completed one painting this week inspired by the experience. I felt pulled to change the colours to my own though, and was guided to focus on blues, pinks and soft purple-greys.

I'm really happy with the balance of muted and saturated colours in this oil painting. It has a gorgeous soft feeling sprinkled with drama that only nature knows how to deliver. I am hoping to be able to fit this piece into my display at Bath Art Fair starting on 27 February.

Do you think I should attempt the greens and reds together in an oil painting?

Let me know!

Much love

P.s. Bath Art Fair Preview is at Bath Pavilion from 27 February to 1 March. Follow this link to book your tickets and I look forward to seeing you there!