Shady Backwater Oil

I discovered these gardens soon after returning to live in the UK, at a time when I was searching for peace and a sense of safety. Gooderstone Water Gardens became a quiet refuge for me—made for wandering without purpose, for musing in dappled shade, and for watching the slow theatre of the seasons unfold. *Shady Backwater* is my tribute to that gentle enchantment: a secluded corner where water rests beneath arching grasses and a simple white bridge invites you to pause.

Drawn to the hush of this hidden inlet, I built the painting in luminous layers of oil, allowing the greens to deepen and light to flicker across the pond’s surface. The brushwork moves between movement and stillness—lilies drifting in reflected sunlight, reeds bending softly, and flowers lifting their bright heads at the water’s edge. I wanted the viewer to feel sheltered within the foliage, as though stepping off the path into a private, peaceful reverie.

The bridge becomes both threshold and anchor—a quiet presence among the abundance, suggesting reflection and return. Around it, carefully chosen plants flourish in gentle contrast: cool whites scattered like small sparks of light, vivid magentas and violets glowing against the green. It is a place to linger, to breathe deeply, and to notice the subtle changes each season brings.

This original painting measures **15.75 x 11.75 x 0.5 inches**. The sides are painted black, so it can be hung unframed, with picture hanging fittings already in place. It is signed and dated on the back, and a certificate of authenticity, signed by myself, accompanies the work. Carefully packed and dispatched promptly, with free delivery within the UK, it is ready to bring a sense of sanctuary and calm into its new home.