Another South Downs painting

At the top of Kingston Ridge near Lewes, Sussex 

The unpredictable days of March bring everything from sunshine to hail . As a fairweather person It makes it hard to plan a walk . I needed a plan B so I decided to paint a view from one of my favourite places . I need no excuses for another South Downs painting, in fact it turns out to be my  114th ! Oh my goodness , I didn't expect that ! .  

Kingston Ridge is situated just South West of Lewes in Sussex and is on the South Downs Way . It's quite a steep climb up there but it's well worth it as the views are amazing !  I have vowed to walk there every year until my knees won't let me . 

Views over the Ouse valley from Kingston Ridge 

 In late Spring the  Hawthorn blossom looks beautiful with views over the Ouse Valley towards Mt. Caburn and Firle Beacon 

Hawthorn blossom on the South Downs 

 There are two  chalk tracks that lead up to the top, this is one of them .

 Each is as picturesque as the other .

Chalk track on Kingston Ridge 

 There is also a narrow path just to the south which is very steep in places . These days I prefer to go down it rather than up !  It's so very pretty , grassy banks filled with flowers and butterflies dancing on the breeze .

Wild flowers on the grassy bank by the footpath 

 On one occasion I sat for ages watching a Kestrel hover and fly around me , it was a perfect day .

Heading down the path towads Kingston 

There's a stile half way down which has fabulous views over Kingston village, Ashcombe windmill and Lewes in the far distance . A pefect composition for a painting and a lovely memory for me :) 

                                                      "Down from the Ridge " 

                                                          Acrylic on canvas 24" x 18"  

Painting the South Downs at Kingston 

 

  Some close ups of the painting 

At the bottom of the hill the path leads onto a lane which takes you past the pretty flint  Church with it's Sussex tapsel gate  

The tapsel gate at Kingston chuch 

                                       and The Juggs .....for a well deserved pint ! 

The Juggs at Kingston 

 

"A glimpse of Marbled White" Painting the wild flowers on Malling Down, Lewes

Malling Down nature reserve, Lewes, Sussex

The arrival of July takes me on a walk up Malling Down on the outskirts of Lewes.
 It's quite a steep walk but worth every moment! The views across the Sussex Weald are magnificent

Views from Malling Down overlooking the Sussex Weald

and as you can see I couldn't have wished for better weather.
Malling down is a nature reserve renowned at this time of year for it's wild flowers and butterflies. I wasn't too sure what to expect but as I approached the steep slopes of the coombe the area became increasingly more colourful with the vast array of flowers and grasses. I spent quite a while here just taking it all in and watching hundreds of Marbled White butterflies dance among the flower heads.
Pure heaven!
This is also a great place to get a good view of Lewes town nestled among the South Downs.

The coombe, Malling, Lewes

All in all a perfect day and I really wanted to try and capture some of it's essence in a painting....

                                 "A glimpse of Marbled White"
                               Acrylic on canvas 32"x 18"x 1.5"
 

"A glimpse of Marbled White" 

Close up views of the painting...

"Beyond to Kingston Ridge" Painting the South Downs

The view of The South Downs looking towards Kingston, Lewes, Sussex

There's still a couple of areas on the outskirts of Lewes that I have not yet explored so I decided to rectify this and headed to the west side of the town . It was a partially sunny day , not glorious sunshine but enough for a very pleasant walk .
I set off by following the track that runs behind Lewes prison and headed off on a circular route over the downs as shown below by the dotted line.

The fields were golden and delightfully edged by vibrant red poppies swaying gently in the breeze.

  The views were wonderful !
 Looking south (over Ashcombe house towards the village of Kingston) the harvest fields  perfectly complimented the lush green slopes of the South Downs.
From my view point I could  also see the recently restored Ashcombe Windmill with it's unusual six sails  http://www.sussexmillsgroup.org.uk/ashcombe.htm  .
I just loved this view and couldn't wait to get painting!

                       "Beyond to Kingston Ridge"
                           

"Beyond to Kingston Ridge" Painting of the South Downs at Lewes, Sussex

                                    Acrylic on canvas 24"x 18" 
                                 If you wish to see this and my other artworks please visit my gallery
                                         https://www.artfinder.com/paula-oakley

"Buttercups and Brooks" (Rodmell and Lewes, East Sussex)

Lewes Brooks

In the middle of the South Downs on the south side of Lewes is a flood plain where the River Ouse takes it's last journey before reaching the sea at Newhaven.

The River Ouse and Mount Caburn in the background

The area is made up of fields and drainage brooks and is a haven for wild birds.

To the west the picturesque villages of Iford, Rodmell and Southease are nestled at the base of the Downs with their chocolate box houses and narrow country lanes.

Iford and Rodmell

 I left Rodmell and walked along a chalk track heading towards the river, June brings the fields alive with a multitude of golden buttercups set off by the vertical reeds and grasses that line the brooks.
It looked so pretty in the sunshine!  Looking back at the village all you could see were a few roof tops and a glimpse of the church. A lovely composition to paint.

                                          "Buttercups and Brooks"
                                            Acrylic on box canvas 12"x 16"x 1.5"

"Buttercups and Brooks" Acrylic painting of Rodmell and Lewes brooks

 On my last visit to this area I painted Southease as seen from Itford Hill....
"Summer over Southease"