Reflections from a first-floor window

A recent trip up north led to some new work. This one maybe needs some explanation. York Minster, yes, that’s obvious. But it’s seen out of a rather high first-floor window at the lovely House of the Trembling Madness, ancient building, bar and off-licence with lovely food. The sun was brillant, that supernaturally bright light you get after a huge downpour. And the flat-ground-floor roof below the window was covered with a sheet of water.

And somehow there seemed no way of doing the piece without being really literal. My work seems to have become more directly representational recently despite the fact that I’m trying to simplify and pare down. It just goes to show that it’s usually the picture in charge, not the artist.

I used a heavy specially-made sheet of paper with acrylics, but added pastels later.