Painting the Dragon's Back

Artist in Residence at The Dragon's Back Race 2025!

 A balmy evening training run up Tryfan, Eryri, August 2021.

I am thrilled to have been invited to join the Ourea team as Artist in Residence on the Dragon's Back Race. I ran this iconic race four years ago. My first multi-day event, known as one of the toughest mountain stage races in the world. Spanning 380km of the best Welsh countryside. This year's event starts on 1st September from Conwy Castle and finishes on 6th September at Cardiff Castle. To this day, no race has competed for a place in my heart. It is spectacular.

 

Weather permitting, I'm hoping to capture the rugged and beautiful terrain the runners will pass through as they journey south to Cardiff. Having not set foot on most of the route since 2021, apart from supporting Shane on his epic DBR FKT last year, I am beyond excited to have this opportunity to join the event team and runners and experience the views that were so fleeting during my race.

 

I hope to run along much of the route, taking photos to develop in my studio but also to paint en plein air. It'll be a tiring but rewarding week as I carry my art kit to favourite locations and find the best tick and midge free place to set up ready to paint for the day. I look forward to adding to my collection of mountain landscape paintings from Wales.

 

Please follow me on my artistic journey alongside these amazing runners. I will post updates on instagram/facebook/email/blog.

 

All work completed will be added to my online gallery on my return.

 

 

Good luck to all of those running the Dragon's Back and a big thank you to Shane and the Ourea team for inviting me to another great race as an artist.

 

See you on the tops

 

Elaine.