Have you heard of Quinta do Lago?

It's in Portugal.

This summer I visited friends for a short trip. It reminded me what it's like going somewhere new for the first time.

As the taxi whizzed along, I was mesmerised by the trees. Quinta was affected badly by the summer fires of 2022, evident from the charred remains of many many trees.

The ones which remained, however, were truly stunning.

There must be strict planning regulations, as despite the large number of villas, there was so much greenery.

When I got home, I googled the trees and discovered that they are a type of pine tree called a 'stone pine'.

It got me wondering how long they take to grow to these majestic sizes?

As well as googling trees, I then also wanted to capture the trip through a print.

So, using the simple forms of the trees and the sunny colours of summer, I created these prints.

There is something so satisfying about creating a little piece of art inspired by a trip. You can capture details which might otherwise be missed by a photo.

In this print, the tiny touch of coral is meant to represent the glow of the trees as the sun was going down. 

My dream is to live somewhere where people can come and create their own holiday memories in postcards to send home. It's a work in progress.

For now, though, if you fancy dabbling with printmaking, just let me know & I'll confirm which dates are available.

Happy summer!

xx