A View From the Watkin Path
Raising Funds for the Prince's Trust
I was invited to donate a painting to the Wall of Inspiration at The Prince's Trust (now known as the King's Trust) 'Inspiring Art Silent Auction' on 22nd October 2014, at Castle Fine Art Gallery, Mayfair, 24 Bruton Street, London. It was a huge privilege to have the opportunity to be involved with the Trust on this occasion and to be one of a group of artists from North Devon allowed to have their work displayed alongside some well-known, talented individuals. When I heard about the silent auction from Echo Beach art gallery and read about the auction's theme — inspiration — I knew straight away that an image I took of the mountains in Snowdonia was the one I would paint for the Trust.
A Painting for the Prince's Trust
The invited artist could choose their own media (a painting, drawing, sketch, collage etc.) to create an artwork on the subject of inspiration. The Trust supplied each invited artist with a single 12 x 12 inch canvas. Once painted, the artist returned the painting in the provided stamped addressed box to the Prince's Trust, London, where it would be framed by the Trust. The deadline for sending the painting was extended to 26th September 2014. Each painting would be sold anonymously at a silent auction, along with approximately twenty other pieces of art donated by leading U.K. artists, displayed together on a Wall of Inspiration to raise money for the Trust.
A sale at the Hilton, Park Lane, London
My painting didn't sell during the first auction, at Castle Fine Art Gallery, Mayfair, but it did sell during the next silent auction held at The Prince's Trust and EMC Leadership Dinner, at The London Hilton, Park Lane, London, on Thursday 29th January 2015, where it sold for £750.00. At this event, The Prince's Trust raised over £419,000.00. This amount made a tremendous difference to the young people the Trust supports.
The Colours Used on this Painting
I began this painting using high-quality professional acrylics, mainly from the renowned Old Holland brand, along with a few other trusted paint brands. I first laid down a Cadmium Red Light ground (i.e. a background colour applied before the painting was started) across the canvas to introduce a sense of 'warmth' — that subtle glow certain colours bring to a painting and which helps everything feel alive from the very start. For the underpainting, I worked mostly with Green Umber and Olive Green to shape the grass and mountains, softening and lifting areas with Yellow Light where brightness was needed. To push the distant mountains back into space, I introduced a Violet-grey into the mix, allowing them to quietly recede and breathe within the landscape.
The sky was built from a blend of Cobalt Blue, Cerulean Blue, and a touch of Brilliant Blue, all gently mixed with white. The clouds came next: a first layer of Violet-grey and Titanium Buff Deep, followed by a lighter second layer of white to give them volume and softness. I painted the hiker's jacket using Payne's Grey, keeping it simple and strong. For the stones and rocks, I returned to Violet-grey, warming certain areas with touches of Raw Umber. The lighter passages of grass were created by mixing Olive Green with white, catching the light and adding freshness to the foreground.
From there, I moved on to the hiker's trousers and backpack, and then added a translucent, milky glaze over the clouds and distant mountains, further setting them back and enhancing the sense of depth. Finally, I focused on the small details — the creases in the trousers, scattered stones, and individual blades of grass. A final glaze over the stones enriched their colour and introduced warmth and softness to the lower right corner of the painting.
Once completed, I signed and dated the painting on the reverse of the canvas (on the wooden stretcher bars) and wrote the title there as well. The painting was varnished on Monday, 15th September 2014, and carefully mailed to The Prince's Trust in London on the 19th of September 2014.
This landscape painting is based on a photograph of myself (see the photograph below) on a brief trip to Snowdonia, during June, 2014. I took this photo on Saturday 21st June, close to the southern side of Snowdon where the Watkin Path gradually ascends toward Snowdon's lofty summit. The view of the surrounding mountains was amazing and inspiring and weather conditions were perfect for walking.
The Mountains of Snowdonia
Mountains have long been associated as places where people have been inspired. The mountain and its path can be interpreted as a metaphor for many things: the path representing the journey of one's life; a personal journey undertaken (something that changes a person inwardly, for the better); the realization of a personal goal; the right path that needs to be climbed, step by step; overcoming challenges along the way in order to achieve a sense of personal fulfillment and accomplishment; and to elevate oneself to another level in order to transform one's life.
For me, mountains are places where I can take stock of things and gain an improved perspective on life's issues, as well as spend time in contemplation on my spiritual self and my connection to nature and to God. A person can easily become lost on a mountain, and it is a place where calmness and assuredness of mind should prevail; but mountains are also places where I know I can be tested and eventually discover what my limits are at any given moment. In this respect, it can be quite humbling, and rightly so. Mostly, the experience is inspiring for me, leaving me fulfilled with a sense of awe and wonder at the views I happily witness alone. The long steady climb is always part of that experience and part of any journey in life. Once a person reaches the summit, the rewards are then presented naturally in the form of a humbling sense of personal achievement and the finest views that can be offered by that mountain.
It is my hope that my painting will be a reminder for you of the steady climb that you are presently on, and that one day soon the summit of your chosen mountain will be yours to stand upon, allowing you to take in all the beauty, spiritual inspiration, and sense of accomplishment it offers you.
Painting Details
Title: A View From The Watkin Path, Snowdonia
[Note: the Prince's Trust listed this painting in the silent auction brochure as Snowdonia and Hiker]
Medium: Acrylic on a Gerstaecker cotton grain canvas supplied by The Princes Trust
Canvas Dimensions: 12 x 12 inches
Date painted: 3rd to 10th September 2014
Price: £750.00
Status: SOLD
Order the Art Print
A View From The Watkin Path, Snowdonia art print is available to buy online at Fine Art America. Choose from a variety of print sizes (the largest size for this print is approx. 30 x 30 inches), select quality fine art papers, print types (e.g. paper print, canvas print, metal print etc.), and framing options to suit your home or style.
Fine Art America has been selling my art prints since 2014, and has been in business since 2006 and are one of the largest, most-respected online art sites in the world, with more than 500,000 independent artists, and deliver worldwide. Fine Art America has the largest print-on-demand fulfilment network in the world. They have sixteen manufacturing centres located in five countries. Each manufacturing centre can ship products to any destination in the world.
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Mark Woollacott is a member of Artists' Union England, the trade union for visual, applied and socially engaged artists www.artistsunionengland.org.uk
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Mark Woollacott?
Mark Woollacott is a British artist known for his professional oil paintings that capture the natural beauty of Britain. His work, such as A View from the Watkin Path, Snowdonia, reflects fine craftsmanship and appeals to art collectors and investors seeking timeless British art.
What is A View from the Watkin Path, Snowdonia?
A View from the Watkin Path, Snowdonia (also known as Snowdonia and Hiker) is an original landscape painting by Mark Woollacott. It captures the grandeur of Snowdonia, Wales, and was donated in 2014 to raise funds for The Prince's Trust during a silent auction at the Hilton Park Lane, London.
How did Mark Woollacott support The King's Trust?
Mark Woollacott supported The Prince's Trust by donating his painting A View from the Watkin Path, Snowdonia to a charity auction held at the Hilton Park Lane, London. The proceeds helped raise funds for The Prince's Trust's youth development and business support initiatives.
Why is Mark Woollacott's art ideal for collectors and investors?
Mark Woollacott's paintings are highly collectible due to their classical British landscape style, high quality, and technical excellence.
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