6. Winter fleeting light in Scotland’s short days

As winter settles in, I find myself looking forward to seeing Scottish scenery again — not despite the season, but because of it. Winter light in Scotland has a character all its own, and it’s something I’m always drawn back to.

The days may be short, but the light can be extraordinary. Bright shafts of sunlight breaking through pale, rain-heavy skies. Low sun catching hills, water, and stone with sudden clarity. And, of course, the dramatic winter sunrises and sunsets that often bring soft pinks, warm yellows, and fleeting oranges to the sky.

These moments don’t last long. Winter light shifts quickly, asking you to slow down and really look. Clouds move fast, colours change by the minute, and familiar landscapes are transformed by contrast — brightness against shadow, warmth against cold.

It’s this atmosphere that continues to shape my painting. Scottish winter landscapes are often thought of as muted, but I find them full of colour and emotion, especially when the sun sits low and the sky is unsettled. Those brief flashes of light stay with me, finding their way into my work long after the moment has passed.

As I look ahead to spending time among Scotland’s landscapes again soon, it’s the winter light I’m most excited to see — dramatic, unpredictable, and quietly beautiful.