No.5 Numbingly Good ?!

'I Can't Feel My Face When I'm With You'

Helvellyn from Raise

The Lake District

Acrylic on stretched canvas

16.5" x 11.5"

2019

Why I chose this scene/subject

This a view of Helvellyn from Raise. A route on the Bob Graham that I do a lot. It was painted after I'd gone up on a particularly cold day in winter and there was still snow on the ground. I took a picture from Raise and the snow just seemed to highlight the curves and movement of the mountain.

On this leg of the BG, there's not much respite if the weather's bad. Once you're up and it's a bad weather day, you're going to hit that all of the way along. The visibility was great on my BG - anticlockwise, so from Dunmail to Threlkeld. I hit raise with a bit of sunlight in the sky. It was really windy 50-60mph despite it being summer. So we got blasted. I fought the winds, with my amazing supporting crew shielding me.

I have also walked the Dodds to Helvellyn with my young children, seeing them achieve their own success (albeit with the motivation of one pound for every peak!). I have lost my leg in a bog and come away with torn muscles and bleeding knees.

These are the fells where I learnt my trade, where I made my mistakes and where I made friends for life. There can't be many paths and trods that I have not run on or climbed up, to get to Helvellyn.

Why I chose this title

This really goes back to my Bob Graham but also other times running this leg, with my husband and friends, the wind blasting me sideways and numbing one side of my face like I'd just had a dental anaesthetic. Some people may think it strange to enjoy such things but I feel truly alive when I'm up there, battling the elements and winning.

Why it makes my Top 10

It's a really popular fell, for walkers, runners and mountain bikers. It's a classic lakeland view and one that I see a lot. From Threlkeld, once you get up Clough Head, you can run all of the way along.

There was no question that this one would get into my Top 10. It's such a beautiful and very special place for me and I loved painting the scene, with it's impression of light reflecting off the snowy ground, it feels magical.

Thanks for reading my reflections.

Next week I'm talking about my most recent painting, No.6 'Freedom is a Two-Edged Sword'

Have a great week.

Elaine.