The advantage of working in the Peak District for me is that
even on a day like this, when I have errands to do in the morning,
it's worth packing sandwiches and flasks and setting off at noon
because I can be there by 1 pm or so and get a good four hours drawing
in. To be honest, after I've done four hours drawing on location
I'm pretty exhausted and need to finish for the day or have a proper
break.
Although at home the grey clouds of the morning had cleared when
I got to Ladybower it started spotting with rain. Not enough to
stop me drawing the view of Derwent Dam that we'd
found on our walk last Thursday but after 40 minutes or so I was
holding a hat over my sketchbook to dodge the drops. I should have
used waterproof ink!
I drove up to the top end of the valley at Howden Dam.
It reminded me of Scotland, of the road to the Isles; a single track
roads dodging in and out of the pines with wild hills and natural
looking water in the background.
I paused and drew Howden Dam before returning home. The reservoir
is brim full. Hosepipe bans and drought orders seem like a faraway
problem here.
It still surprises me that there are such big remote-looking landscapes
so close to home. 
Richard Bell, richard@willowisland.co.uk
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