As summer was slipping into autumn, I found myself driving through the New Forest National Park. Suddenly, the landscape opened up — an endless stretch of purple heather rolling across the moorland.
I stopped. Got out of the car, wandered into it, and just stood there, completely taken in by the colours and the stillness. I snapped a few photos, but they could never really hold the wild beauty or the feeling of freedom in that moment.
When I got back to the studio, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. So I painted — not just what I saw, but how it felt. I built it up in layers, with texture and depth, and I love how the pops of orange and yellow break through the purples, rather like the fading ferns.
For me, this painting isn’t only a landscape. It’s a piece of peace — a memory of wandering the New Forest as a child, of walking with friends, that sense of adventure and wild unexpected moments one experiences when out in nature.
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Why this painting means something special
When someone adds a piece of art to their home or collection, I think it’s about more than colours. It’s about the story and the feeling it carries. This painting holds:
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The calm of wide open skies and shifting September light.
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The energy of layered paint, giving it texture and movement.
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A sense of connection to the New Forest, a place filled with history and wild beauty.
It’s the kind of artwork that can bring a breath of nature and stillness into a space, while also carrying its own story for years to come.
I’d love for Purple Reverie to find a home with someone who feels that same pull towards the landscape — someone who wants to bring a little of that peace, colour and sense of adventure into their home.
I have been deeply saddened by the recent wildfires in the New Forest National Park and the impact they have had on this beautiful landscape. In response, 20% of the proceeds from the sale of this painting will be donated to the New Forest Trust, supporting the protection and conservation of the New Forest.
Bring Purple Reverie Home