Acrylic on canvas, 16 x 12"

The painting is on a stretched canvas, painted round the sides, with a string on the back, so it is ready to hang as it is, or can be framed if you prefer.

This highland cow was wandering leisurely along the middle of the road in Kilchoan, Scotland. We were driving up to see the lighthouse at Ardnamurchan Point and had already had the excitement of seeing two golden eagles soaring high in the sky on our way. The eagles and the highland cows are not animals we normally see, living in the Midlands.

I loved the cow's calm unhurried relaxed manner, as well as his lovely long ginger hair and impressive horns. He wasn't bothered by our car driving close to him and me taking lots of photos out of the window.

It was wonderful to be in such an unhurried place compared to the beginning of our journey up to Scotland on fast multi-laned motorways. I hate being in the car and speed and traffic, but spending time in remote places of Scotland with all its natural beauty made the journey seem worth it.

I enjoy painting from photos when I get back home, dwelling on the things which I've seen which I found beautiful. Kilchoan was one of the beautiful places we visited on a summer camping tour of Scotland, also including the Isle of Arran, Isle of Mull, Isle of Skye and Glencoe. It was a special family trip which I will remember for a long time. I am doing several paintings of scenes from the trip which help me remember it.

Kilchoan, where we saw these highland cows, is the most westerly village on the British mainland. It is very peaceful and remote with a small population of only about 150. We came across the sea to it on a Calmac ferry from Tobermory on the Isle of Mull. We stayed at Ardnamurchan Campsite which was lovely. In the evenings we took a little table and chairs onto the pebble beach next to the campsite and drank wine as the waves gently lapped at the shore and the sun went down.