Mixed media, 36 x 25 cm £185

The rugged east coast of Harris is not very fertile but faces the deep waters of the Minch with their rich fisheries. People evicted from the fertile machair on the west coast came here to eke a living before many were forced to emigrate. The "Golden Road" was built by destitute crofters in return for meal, and meanders down the coast, with many dramatic views over the rough scenery.

This painting was inspired by a stop along the Golden Road in the vicinity of Finsbay (Fionnsabhagh), where a cluster of crofters cottages overlook the loch.

In this scene I have tried to capture the sense of the cottages straddling sea and land, and with the use of modelling paste in the middle ground to suggest the ancient rock which lies so close to the surface.