"Summer over Southease" Painting the view over Southease in Sussex from Itford Hill

Itford Hill, Sussex

Itford Hill is situated just a couple of miles south of the town of Lewes .
 From the top the views are breathtaking!
 North takes you over the river Ouse towards Lewes.
East has wonderful views of Mount Caburn and the Sussex Weald.
Looking South you can see the sea at Newhaven and Seaford.
West overlooks the Ouse valley and the South Downs....this is the view that will be the subject of my painting.
On a hazy Summer day I headed to Southease, a tiny little rural village in the Ouse valley that has an interesting and unusual church with a round tower http://southeasevillage.info/

Southease, Sussex

The walk through the village to Itford Hill is part of the South Downs Way and takes you over the River Ouse via a swing bridge. The bridge was extensively restored in 2010 and seems to fit in so well with it's surroundings.

The swing bridge at Southease

Shortly after you come upon the railway station which always seems to be in a rather odd place as it's in the middle of nowhere! I think it gets used mostly by walkers as there's a youth hostel next to it . As I crossed over the footbridge I stopped to watch a train go by. As you can see by my photo it's a very rural location ...

Distant view of Mount Caburn from Southease station

 I followed the track that would take me to the top of Itford Hill, looking forward to the views that awaited me.

Heading up Itford Hill

It turned out to be a lot steeper than it looked! On my way up a group of young lads passed me, they had stayed at the hostel for the night and were in the process of walking the South Downs Way from one end to the other  (160 km from Winchester to Eastbourne) . They were on a quest to complete their task and were soon ahead of me and out of sight . I admired their determination but was a little saddened that  their rush meant they were missing the chance to absorb so many splendid views.
At least I wasn't the only one taking my time.....;)

Finally I reached the top , it was a bit hazy but the scenery was wonderful!
Looking back I could see the path that I had taken and the reason for my walk.
 To paint the landscape over Southease.
 As a very young child I lived on two different farms in this area , alas too young to appreciate it !
But what I do appreciate is that pudding bowl  haircuts are a thing of the long distant past!!!!!!

So back to the painting... the composition will be of  Southease nestled in the South Downs in the Ouse Valley. Just the church and swing bridge can be seen surrounded by the harvest fields of Summer..
Work in progress...."Summer over Southease"  (Acrylic on box canvas 24"x 18"x 1.5")

Work in progress. Painting the view over the Ouse valley and Southease (Sussex)

Started work on the buildings , bridge and trees ...

Whilst letting the other areas dry I have added the first layers of paint to the fields, these will eventually have several hay bales in them . It's a dark and dreary day so unfortunately it hasn't photographed very well .....roll on Summer!
Finally  I have completed the  painting. Days of Summer, rolling hills, hay bales, red berried Hawthorn and sunshine!

                                           "Summer over Southease"

"Summer over Southease" landscape painting of the South Downs at Southease in Sussex

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"Mount Caburn Views" Painting the view of the Sussex Ouse valley

Mount Caburn, Lewes, Sussex

My walk this week took me to the top of Mount Caburn on the outskirts of Lewes.
 At 480ft it is an isolated peak with an iron age fort at the top.
 It is a National Nature Reserve with an abundance of beautiful wild flowers.
 My walk took me through pretty wild orchids and scented meadow sweet swaying gently with the delicate grasses in the warm Summer breeze.
It was a perfect day of blue skies and sunshine with superb views over the Sussex Weald.
Westwards  takes you to Glynde and along past Firle Beacon on the South Downs

View of Firle Beacon and Wilmington from the top of Mount caburn

Southwards overlooks the village of Beddingham nestled at the bottom of the Downs

Beddingham, Sussex

But it was the view South West that really made the walk worth while.
The River Ouse leaves Lewes and meanders down the valley past the picturesque villages of Rodmell, Southease and Piddinghoe, finally reaching the sea at Newhaven in the far distance.
As a young child I lived on farms in this area and enjoyed walks along the riverbank as much as I do today.
                                            "Mount Caburn Views"
                              Acrylic on box canvas 24"x 20"x 1.5"

Painting the view south from Mount Caburn

 Paintings for sale at https://www.artgallery.co.uk/artist/paula_oakley_2

Painting the boats on the river Ouse at Lewes, Sussex

The River Ouse at Lewes, Sussex

Back in the Summer I visited my local town of Lewes. It's a town steeped in history that has some wonderful architecture. The river Ouse runs through the center of the town and was once a vital means of transport for the Lewes businesses. In the 19th century the waterway was full of barges and boats laden with goods and the river banks were overrun with wharfs, warehouses, granaries, ironworks, breweries, a gasworks, a papermill and soap factory.

The cement works in 1900 and how the buildings look today

Today the river is used mainly for leisure and many small  boats can be seen moored just a short distance from Cliffe bridge.
The river is tidal which causes the reflections to change through out the day, the small colourful boats and their reflections were a perfect subject for a painting...

                                  "River Reflections"
                                                  Acrylic on stretched canvas 24"x 12"

Painting the boats on the river Ouse at Lewes, Sussex

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