Ride to the Wall

This week hasn’t been about paintbrushes or sketchbooks, if I’m honest. I didn’t manage to get any art done at all. Most of my time has been taken up with resting – the fatigue hit me harder than usual – and also getting myself ready for a long ride tomorrow and Saturday.

It’s that time of year again: Ride to the Wall. Over ten thousand of us, bikers from all corners of the UK and Europe, ride to the National Memorial Arboretum. It’s not about the bikes though – it’s about being there to remember those who gave their lives serving this country, in every conflict. It’s always moving, always powerful, and it’s something I wouldn’t miss.

What I find is that these moments away from the studio feed back into my art in their own way. Being part of something so meaningful, riding alongside strangers who feel like friends for a day, standing in silence together at the memorial – it all stays with you. It reminds me that when I pick up a brush or a stick of charcoal, I’m not just making marks on paper. I’m trying to hold on to a moment, a feeling, or a connection, the same way the ride holds on to memory and respect.

So, no landscapes or studio time this week. But once I’m back, I’ve decided to take a step away from landscapes for a fortnight and focus on two portraits. I want to really capture two people in that moment, as they are, and see where it takes me.

Come back next week and I’ll show you how the first one is shaping up. It feels good to have that to look forward to after this weekend’s ride.