Low Tide at Watermouth Harbour in North Devon

The rugged coast of North Devon has such a unique character when the tide goes out. At Watermouth Harbour, the retreating water reveals the "burrows" and these wonderful mudflats that reflect the sky. I wanted this painting to show the stillness of the boats resting on the sand. The large headland in the background provides a strong, dark shape that helps the white boat in the middle really pop out and catch your eye.

How do you make the wet mud look interesting without it turning into a grey mess? One trick I use is to mix a little Alizarin Crimson with Ultramarine Blue and Burnt Umber. This gives the ground a warm, earthy feel while still looking damp. I then dragged a dry brush across the paper to create those long, thin lines that look like ropes and tracks in the sand. It is all about suggesting the detail rather than painting every single pebble.

The boat itself is the star of the show here. I used a very bright Cobalt Blue for the hull to give it some life against the neutral colours of the harbour floor. I also used a tiny bit of white paint at the very end to add some highlights on the mast and the top of the cabin. These small touches of pure white help to show where the light is hitting the smooth surfaces of the vessel.

For the distant headland, I blended some Viridian Green with a touch of Burnt Sienna. This creates a soft, natural green that looks like the wild grass and gorse you see on the Devon cliffs. I kept the edges soft so that the headland feels like it is further away in the misty air. This painting is currently for sale, so if you would like to own a piece of the North Devon coast, please do contact me for more information.

I hope this gives you some ideas for your own harbour scenes. Watercolour is the perfect medium for capturing the changing textures of the sea and shore. If you want to see more of my work or learn more about my techniques, please visit the rest of my website at www.timwilmotartist.com. You can also join my painting club and community at patreon.com/timwilmot. Check it out for a free trial!