Shadows and Sunlight at the Secret Garden in Batheaston

How do you paint the feeling of a fresh spring day? This was the big question on my mind for my very first outdoor painting trip of 2026. I took my easel to a wonderful hidden spot called the Secret Garden in Batheaston, near Bath. It is a beautiful old walled garden by the river. The historic stone walls and the green pathways are just perfect for a watercolour artist. It was a bit chilly, but the sun was shining bright, making it a great day to paint outside.

My focus for this painting was all about the strong contrast between light and shade. Look at the big old wall on the left. I used warm earth colours like burnt sienna mixed with deep purples to show the dark, cool shadow. Right next to it, the bright sun hits the green box hedges and the grass. This strong jump from dark shadow to bright light is what gives the painting its life. It makes the scene feel real and sunny.

For the colour choices, I wanted the spring greens to pop. I used a mix of bright spring green and viridian green for the hedges, but I also let the white paper show through in places to act as bright sunlight. The sky is a mix of cobalt blue and cerulean blue with big, soft clouds left as white paper. In the middle, I added some purple lavender tones for the small flowers to give a nice bit of detail.

I always like to add a person to my landscapes to give a sense of scale and a bit of a story. You can see a local walker with their dog strolling down the gravel path on the right.