Awash with a carpet of bluebells and bathed in the soft glow of evening light, Bellburn Wood is a place of tranquillity and renewal. Hidden just beyond the old railway lines, now transformed into the Auckland Way, this woodland has long been a sanctuary where the spirit can rest and recharge.

This painting is deeply personal. As a child, I often walked through Bellburn Wood on the way back to my grandparents' home in Binchester, where a warm welcome and freshly baked rock buns were always waiting. Many years later, I returned along the same route with my father and my youngest son, Jack, sharing stories and memories as we walked beneath the trees. As we made our way back to Binchester, I phoned ahead and asked my mother if she would make us some rock buns. Some traditions are too precious to lose.

Bellburn's magnificent old trees stand as timeless witnesses to generations of footsteps, conversations, and shared moments. Silent observers of a changing world, they remain rooted in place, holding the memories of all who have passed beneath their branches.

Evening Light celebrates not only the beauty of this hidden woodland gem, but also the enduring connections between landscape, family, and memory.