Robin Hood’s Bay

• Title: Robin Hood’s Bay
• Medium: Oil
• Substrate: 12oz cotton canvas
• Size: 100cm x 100cm
• Style: Contemporary
• Frame: Yes
• Print available: Yes

Beautiful Robin Hood’s Bay is situated on the edge of the North Yorks Moors between Scarborough and Whitby. The village, which consists of a maze of tiny streets, has a tradition of smuggling and there is reputed to be a network of subterranean passageways linking the houses. During the late 18th century smuggling was rife on the Yorkshire coast. Vessels from the continent brought contraband which was distributed by contacts on land and the operations were financed by syndicates who made profits without the risks taken by the seamen and the villagers. Tea, gin, rum, brandy and tobacco were among the contraband smuggled into Yorkshire from the Netherlands and France to avoid the duty.

David says: Ah – beautiful Robin Hood’s Bay: a place of many happy childood and adulthood memories. We were exploring the area, Becky and I, one hot afternoon in June, taking any lane that led towards the sea. We came across a finger post near Boggle Hole pointing along the Cleveland Way so we followed it and this was the view that opened in front of us. Of course it had to be a painting – I did a couple of drawings in pencil and watercolour, took some photographs and on our return, made this painting in the studio. Sometimes paintings happen very quickly – almost complete within a day; sometimes they need to be revisited many times and this was one of them. The constant battle to capture what it looked and felt like to be there whilst at the same time remaining loose. The footpath was narrow and our legs were brushed by grasses and gorse. The glistening sea was gentle and almost silent – only the sounds of crickets and the occasional, slowly bending seagull accompanied us.