Paul West traditionally draws inspiration from the rugged landscapes of Dorset and Northumberland. However, it was on a visit to Arran that the artist fell in love with Scottish west coast.

Driving around the island’s headlands, the artist was met with a view of the Firth of Clyde so beautiful that he was compelled to capture it in his iconic and intense charcoal technique.

Like the desolate Northumberland landscapes, the low horizon and dramatic sky of this view create an immense sense of perspective and calm. The viewer’s gaze quietly travels out over the still waters to the distant mountains, themselves framed by brooding and threatening clouds that silently traverse the sky.

With bright sunlight breaking around the edges of the clouds, and reflecting on the water’s surface, there is a feeling of anticipation in the air. In the next few seconds the clouds will move and a clear sky and sunlight will fill the scene. In doing this, Paul West has perfectly captured the ever-changing skyline of the Scottish west coast.