Our annual early summer Paintaway to Beaumaris in Anglesey, from 21st to 25th May, was blessed with almost perfect weather.
This enabled us to explore far and wide across the island and on to the immediate mainland, returning to favourite spots or seeking out new sketching locations. These included formerly bustling harbours such as Amlwch, small, almost hidden churches, and wild, remote beaches. For some of us there was a return to the dramatic moonscape of Parys Mountain, where huge craters and a mine headstock still bear testimony to the scale of the former quarrying and mining for copper, which has left exotic and multi-coloured spoil exposed in every direction.
We were well looked after in the comfortable Bulkeley Hotel, situated on the edge of the Menai Straits with splendid views across to the mountains of Snowdonia.
On the final evening we had an opportunity to enjoy each other’s sketchbooks, compare notes on our various adventures and to look ahead to next year’s Paintaway project.
Thanks are due to the very helpful staff of the hotel, to Alan Townsend, who organised our stay, and all those who helped in any way to make the event a friendly and productive experience.
Finally a big thank you to all for their positive participation and to Frank Hilton for his excellent photographic record.