Batty Moss

The Ribblehead Viaduct or more correctly Batty Moss Viaduct, built in the last phase of the great railway building period in the 1870’s. It doesn't take me to say what an impressive structure it is and how lucky we are to have it on our doorstep. I painted this from sketches and photos I made while having an amble around the platforms and lumps and bumps of the remains of the shanty town that for a while turned this remote location into the most populous ‘city’ in Ribblesdale. Around this viaduct there is a lovely little (2.5miles) walk which is not too taxing, and takes in the views of this landmark from all aspects, including two farms of which Winterscales will be the subject of a further painting as this hamlet is too pretty not to miss. 

Cold and Frosty January Morning

I have got to admit though this painting was a bit of a struggle, ideally the aim was to capture the light and shadows of the viaduct over the undulating sedges of Batty Moss, together with spoil heap from railway construction to the right of the painting, but no matter how much I refined it, the painting just didn’t work. so despite a couple of days ‘dabbling’ at it to no purpose - refining the foreground grasses and playing more and more with the shadows - it still wasn’t working, an element was missing. I needed life and focus and then it hit me, but not literally - so I resorted to the old dales adage, “if in doubt - chuck in a sheep or two”, or three and within minutes the painting was transformed from a fairly cold lifeless daub to a fairly cold daub with life.

Batty Moss, Oil on Canvas Panel: 16" x 12"