I was born in Scotland and later married there I have a great love of Scotlands countryside. The saying Absence makes the heart grow fonder is a phrase I really empathise with and it wasn’t until the other day that I was looking about our local gallery that I viewed the paintings of Gillian McDonald a painter that is particularly gifted in capturing the feel of gorgeous countryside.

Her beautiful pictures are lovely encapsulating the nature of the countryside but nestle in buildings that have a safety and peacefulness which provides the essence of untouched places. Gillian McDonald learnt her art at the London college of art but focused her love for the medium of water colour in Indonesia. She is known for her fantastic use of colour which really pulls out the essence of the subject she is attempting to portray.

It was really nice to see the beautiful peaks of Ben More at the back of the scene with homesteads nestled in the comfortable and sweeping landscape spread out before it. I love the fact that in Gillian McDonalds pictures you often find detail in a flower or blade of grass that ties In brilliantly with other areas of the image. I understand that Gillian McDonald herself is a keen gardener and walker, often roaming different areas of the landscape looking for her next picture to paint.

I believe Gillian McDonald now lives in Wales where she produces her work concentrating on her water colours and producing pieces that are loved the world over.