Summer has arrived! The lush greens are starting to turn golden and the butterflies dance on the warm breeze from one flower to the next ....perfect, just perfect! 

My recent walks have taken me up on the  South Downs and the views have been stunning . 

The South Downs

 A sunshine day took me to Cuckmere Haven where I walked up over the downs on the  eastern side of the river.  I hadn't been to this part before and I wanted to see where the old church of Exceat once stood. I almost missed it among the long grass

The stone marking the place where the old church  of Excete once stood

It was a fabulous walk, blue skies,  sunshine  and the views were amazing.  

Cuckmere Haven

I reached the top of Haven Brow, which is the first of the Seven Sisters and decided it would be the perfect spot for lunch.

On top of The Seven Sisters

 As soon as I'd sat down a very cheeky Crow joined me and decided that I should share my sandwich with him . He knew when he was on to a good thing! 

After a while I continued on my walk , this meant heading back down hill. I had the choice of two paths,  I stupidly picked the steep one ! I will never EVER go down this path again! It was extremely steep and smooth. No where to safely get a good footing. I'm not good with heights so ended up bum shuffling my way down hill ! But.....I made it!

All in all it was a brilliant day and I couldn't wait to get painting one my favourite views of the day 

                                                     "Haven Views" 

 

"Over The Seven Sisters"

The Seven Sisters ,East Sussex

The Seven Sisters are one of the most iconic and picturesque places in the UK and I am very fortunate to live so near to them.
The views are stunning and never cease to take my breath away!
This Summer we set off to the middle part of the cliffs at Crowlink near Friston.

My sister and I headed across the sheep fields to Flagstaff Brow to the monument .
 Here the rich green slopes are lit up by the beautiful vivid blue flowers of Vipers Bugloss.

Crowlink on the Seven Sisters

 Blue skies and sea go on forever, edged by the pure white chalk cliffs ...perfect!
 Walking the South Downs Way takes you along theses cliff tops where the view east overlooks the cottages at Birling Gap and the Belle Tout lighthouse,  proudly standing on the cliff tops in the hazy distance.
How could I resist?

                                            "Over The Seven Sisters" 
                                              Acrylic on box  canvas 24"x 12" x 1.5" 

"Over The Seven Sisters" acrylic painting 

"Bluebells at Birling Gap" Painting the coastguard cottages at Birling Gap

Birling Gap on the Sussex coast 2014

Birling Gap is situated at the western edge of the Seven Sisters cliffs on the East Sussex coast.
The coastguard cottages are a well known land mark that are gradually being destroyed by erosion. The cliffs have dramatically changed over the years as the pictures below illustrate.

Erosion of the cliffs at Birling Gap

The severe storms of last Winter caused such extensive damage that the end cottage has had to be demolished as it was now unsafe.

Cottage before demolition February 2014

It's such a picturesque location that it seems rather sad to see it gradually falling apart.
On our recent visit I was surprised and delighted to see that on the cliff top grew large areas of bright bluebells. Swaying in the breeze as if  imitating the gentle waves of the sea.
. It seemed a fitting subject to paint, as one day it will be gone.....
Work in progress..
                                        "Bluebells at Birling Gap"
                                           Acrylic on box canvas 20"x 16"x 1.5" 
The picture has been sketched out, under painted and work has begun on the cliffs, sea and background 

Work in progress, painting the cottages at Birling gap

Most of today's progress was on the cottages, they're not finished yet but they are well on their way!

Painting in the cottages

Finally the foliage and bluebells fill the foreground like scented sea waves and now it's all finished .
                                  
                                          "Bluebells at Birling Gap"

Bluebells at Birling Gap

                                                                           ***
The bluebells this year have been wonderful my local woods have been a delight to walk through, Scented blue carpets and sunshine!
                                            

                                  

                                                                            

                            

Painting the Seven Sisters of Sussex

The Seven Sisters

Just for a change the August Bank Holiday was a lovely hot sunny day.

 Perfect weather for a trip to the coast and to one of my favourite places, Cuckmere Haven in  East Sussex. 

Here you find the iconic view of the coastguard cottages against the backdrop of The Seven Sisters and see the snake like river flowing into the sea.

The river Ouse running snake -like out towards the sea

It is a wonderful place to visit and the views are stunning.

I have painted the coastguard cottages before on a small canvas so I wanted to return and paint them again a bit larger. I had one problem, I couldn't decide which view to paint!

To solve this I've decided to paint two at the same time, something I don't usually do as I find it hard to concentrate but as they're both of the same subject everything seems to be going well :)

It's interesting to see how the colours change in the light and how different the same subject looks from a different angle...

"Seven Sisters Summer"

Acrylic on box canvas 16"x 20"x 1.5"

"Seven Sisters Summer"

 This image has been painted many many times but the cottages won't be there for ever as the chalk cliffs are rapidly eroding away!

  Good news! "Seven Sisters Summer" is now available as prints, t shirts, note books, mugs, cards, cushions, bags and more! Click on this link to view the full range Paula Oakley at Redbubble

"Seven Sisters Summer" by Paula Oakley

"Seven Sisters Summer" cushion by Paula Oakley

                                                   "Cuckmere Cottages"
                                    Acrylic on box canvas 16"x 20"x 1.5"

The coastguard cottages at Cuckmere Haven

 . Here you can see how close to the edge the coastguard cottages now stand. I love the way the orange clay soil almost glows in the sunshine.

                                                                       

More paintings Sussex scenes http://paula-paintmyworld.blogspot.co.uk/p/the-sussex-coast-on-canvas.html#.U7l_HrGFDIU