Fountains Abbey Ruins, Ripon. Watercolour painting

Here is my new watercolour of Fountains Abbey and the ruins near Ripon in North Yorkshire. I love this view across the green banks and formal lawns, with the tall tower catching the light and the summer trees behind. The site is part of Studley Royal Park and is a favourite spot for sketching and painting landscapes in the UK. Old stone, soft clouds and bright greens make a great subject for a loose painting.

I kept the composition simple. The leaves at the top frame the scene and lead the eye to the main tower and walls. The sky is a light wash of cerulean with a touch of cobalt blue, then I dropped in soft grey clouds. For the stone I used a mix of burnt sienna and ultramarine to get warm cool shifts, with a little lavender in the shaded sides.

Greens can be tricky, so I varied them a lot. The lawns were a spring green pushed warmer with a touch of yellow ochre, while trees were a viridian mix darkened in places to make the abbey stand out. I used dry brush on the walls for texture and a few tiny figures for scale. The final spark came from small light accents and a couple of crisp edges around the tower.

This original painting is for sale. Please contact me for more information if you are interested in buying it. If you enjoy watercolour tips and demos, please visit my website for more and join my painting club on Patreon. Head to www.timwilmotartist.com and patreon/timwilmot to see behind the scenes, take part in live sessions and join the community. Check it out for a free trial.