John Altringham
@johnaltringham.mastodon.online.ap.brid.gy
Ecologist and conservation scientist (emeritus prof.) in despair over inaction on climate change and biodiversity crises. Mountain-lover. Artist. Live in […]
🌉 bridged from ⁂ https://mastodon.online/@JohnAltringham, follow @ap.brid.gy to interact
🌉 bridged from ⁂ https://mastodon.online/@JohnAltringham, follow @ap.brid.gy to interact
Today's rapid and loose watercolour sketch of a landmark Edinburgh building - the entrance to the Neo-gothic National Portrait Gallery.
November 27, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Today's rapid and loose watercolour sketch of a landmark Edinburgh building - the entrance to the Neo-gothic National Portrait Gallery.
Quick, loose watercolour of Barclay Church on the edge of Bruntsfield Links in Edinburgh. One of many Edinburgh buildings I sketched when I first picked up watercolours. I thought I'd revisit a few with a more relaxed approach...
November 26, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Quick, loose watercolour of Barclay Church on the edge of Bruntsfield Links in Edinburgh. One of many Edinburgh buildings I sketched when I first picked up watercolours. I thought I'd revisit a few with a more relaxed approach...
This morning's watercolour, 25x9cm. Painted through the pain of the first Ashes test match. Cricket, eh.
November 22, 2025 at 9:55 AM
This morning's watercolour, 25x9cm. Painted through the pain of the first Ashes test match. Cricket, eh.
Watercolour on Two Rivers handmade paper, the thick stuff. 79x56 cm.
November 20, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Watercolour on Two Rivers handmade paper, the thick stuff. 79x56 cm.
Kilmaluag, Trotternish, Skye
Lenticular clouds
Lit by moon and setting sun
Spill off The Quiraing
Lenticular clouds
Lit by moon and setting sun
Spill off The Quiraing
November 14, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Kilmaluag, Trotternish, Skye
Lenticular clouds
Lit by moon and setting sun
Spill off The Quiraing
Lenticular clouds
Lit by moon and setting sun
Spill off The Quiraing
Sometimes... slow time
Knoydart across the Sound of Sleat, Skye
Knoydart across the Sound of Sleat, Skye
November 14, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Sometimes... slow time
Knoydart across the Sound of Sleat, Skye
Knoydart across the Sound of Sleat, Skye
Great Close Scar, Malham, Yorkshire Dales.
November 7, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Great Close Scar, Malham, Yorkshire Dales.
Metamorphic rocks of Faraid Head, Sutherland, NW Scotland. Moine Thrust Zone Mylonites Complex.
A visual invitation to dive below the thin veneer of sand and follow the geology into the crust.
Photo, watercolour and a monochrome photo - an engraving?
A visual invitation to dive below the thin veneer of sand and follow the geology into the crust.
Photo, watercolour and a monochrome photo - an engraving?
October 30, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Metamorphic rocks of Faraid Head, Sutherland, NW Scotland. Moine Thrust Zone Mylonites Complex.
A visual invitation to dive below the thin veneer of sand and follow the geology into the crust.
Photo, watercolour and a monochrome photo - an engraving?
A visual invitation to dive below the thin veneer of sand and follow the geology into the crust.
Photo, watercolour and a monochrome photo - an engraving?
My wood engraving "Oak" has been selected for the 88th annual exhibition of the Society of Wood Engravers. The exhibition will tour the UK in 2026, starting at the Bankside Gallery, London in February.
October 28, 2025 at 9:35 AM
My wood engraving "Oak" has been selected for the 88th annual exhibition of the Society of Wood Engravers. The exhibition will tour the UK in 2026, starting at the Bankside Gallery, London in February.
Work in progress, watercolour autumn, for my sister. 80x60cm.
The paintbrush on the ceramic rest and the leaf to the right of them are real, given away by their shadows. Painted leaves will all have painted shadows to pop them out of the paper and bring them to life, or in this case, senescence.
The paintbrush on the ceramic rest and the leaf to the right of them are real, given away by their shadows. Painted leaves will all have painted shadows to pop them out of the paper and bring them to life, or in this case, senescence.
October 22, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Work in progress, watercolour autumn, for my sister. 80x60cm.
The paintbrush on the ceramic rest and the leaf to the right of them are real, given away by their shadows. Painted leaves will all have painted shadows to pop them out of the paper and bring them to life, or in this case, senescence.
The paintbrush on the ceramic rest and the leaf to the right of them are real, given away by their shadows. Painted leaves will all have painted shadows to pop them out of the paper and bring them to life, or in this case, senescence.
Off to the https://www.zillahbellgallery.co.uk tomorrow for the preview of the Society of Wood Engravers exhibition and to deliver a few prints for the Winter Exhibition that opens in December.
October 17, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Off to the https://www.zillahbellgallery.co.uk tomorrow for the preview of the Society of Wood Engravers exhibition and to deliver a few prints for the Winter Exhibition that opens in December.
A stormy autumn day on the Northumberland coast. Dunstanburgh Castle and Embleton Bay. Photo, watercolour and wood engraving print. From the archives - walks and wild weather currently off limits, hopefully not for too long.
October 5, 2025 at 10:22 AM
A stormy autumn day on the Northumberland coast. Dunstanburgh Castle and Embleton Bay. Photo, watercolour and wood engraving print. From the archives - walks and wild weather currently off limits, hopefully not for too long.
Not the best of times. However, today I became an elected member of the Society of Wood Engravers. This has raised a smile and reminded me that I have only 10 days in which to submit my entries for the 2026 annual travelling exhibition. Pictured, engravings […]
[Original post on mastodon.online]
[Original post on mastodon.online]
September 30, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Not the best of times. However, today I became an elected member of the Society of Wood Engravers. This has raised a smile and reminded me that I have only 10 days in which to submit my entries for the 2026 annual travelling exhibition. Pictured, engravings […]
[Original post on mastodon.online]
[Original post on mastodon.online]
I've tried many times to capture the atmosphere of a Hebridean shore under a grey sky, before the morning mist has cleared. Somehow the beach and the machair still glow and the sea somehow still looks tropical. Yesterday I think I just about cracked it.
September 7, 2025 at 9:24 AM
I've tried many times to capture the atmosphere of a Hebridean shore under a grey sky, before the morning mist has cleared. Somehow the beach and the machair still glow and the sea somehow still looks tropical. Yesterday I think I just about cracked it.
Watercolour 26x15 cm. Mt Whitney, Sierra Nevada, CA.
Persuaded by yesterday's quick sketch to take a little more time and care over a larger version. More often than not I prefer the quick sketch but not this time.
Persuaded by yesterday's quick sketch to take a little more time and care over a larger version. More often than not I prefer the quick sketch but not this time.
September 1, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Watercolour 26x15 cm. Mt Whitney, Sierra Nevada, CA.
Persuaded by yesterday's quick sketch to take a little more time and care over a larger version. More often than not I prefer the quick sketch but not this time.
Persuaded by yesterday's quick sketch to take a little more time and care over a larger version. More often than not I prefer the quick sketch but not this time.
Wood engraving in progress - sparrowhawk. A glass of malt whisky fuels the work.
August 14, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Wood engraving in progress - sparrowhawk. A glass of malt whisky fuels the work.
Mid-morning walk on Ilkley Moor, heather in full bloom.
August 11, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Mid-morning walk on Ilkley Moor, heather in full bloom.
Clouds from the garden.
July 24, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Clouds from the garden.
Early walk on Ilkley Moor before the cloud had settled on a plan for the day. Late summer colours already.
July 21, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Early walk on Ilkley Moor before the cloud had settled on a plan for the day. Late summer colours already.
First test print of a wood engraving of a singing wren on a tree stump. Above it is a sonogram of part of its song.
The scientist in me wants to put frequency and time labels on the axes but I think I should resist.
Do I give the wren a woodland background or make it a clean, solid black?
The scientist in me wants to put frequency and time labels on the axes but I think I should resist.
Do I give the wren a woodland background or make it a clean, solid black?
July 17, 2025 at 5:13 PM
First test print of a wood engraving of a singing wren on a tree stump. Above it is a sonogram of part of its song.
The scientist in me wants to put frequency and time labels on the axes but I think I should resist.
Do I give the wren a woodland background or make it a clean, solid black?
The scientist in me wants to put frequency and time labels on the axes but I think I should resist.
Do I give the wren a woodland background or make it a clean, solid black?
Work in progress. Wherever I walk near home, there is always a singing wren.
July 15, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Work in progress. Wherever I walk near home, there is always a singing wren.