Culzean - timeless memories .

Description

This is an acrylic painting of Culzean Castle on the West Coast of Scotland in Ayrshire. This place holds timeless memories for me as I visited the castle every summer during my childhood where my grandparents rented a seafront cottage from The Marquis of Ailsa (before it became the property of the National Trust for Scotland). I have watched the grounds change to become more public friendly, with new additions and repurposing, probably mostly at the Home Farm Courtyard, where they have changed the buildings into gift shops and a restaurant, but I can remember when the place was a cow byre and watched the farmer herding the cows into the byre for milking (now apartments/ offices). There are beautiful walks throughout the ground in forest land, clifftops looking out over the sea, around a Swan Pond and along the coastline. Today we walk our dogs weekly through the grounds (sometimes more in summer) and they love the variety and freedom of our walks. The view of the castle is taken from a path opposite the castle where there is a seat where we normally sit after our walk. I love the grandeur and timelessness of the castle (the facia has never altered) with the formality of the beautiful gardens and fountain. In the painting, I have purposely included the trees of the wooded area where we sit as a contrast to the castle and formal gardens and also to show how quickly you can move from formality to the wild woodland area. The place brings back not only so many childhood memories but also memories shared with my own children and grandchildren, while making new memories with my husband and our dogs. Such a special place.