John Altringham
@johnaltringham.bsky.social
170 followers 110 following 140 posts
Scientist, conservationist, mountain-lover, artist. Happiest outdoors. https://johnaltringham.co.uk
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
Pinned
Mainly mountains. Mainly monochrome.
Walnut ink (rich brown) sketch of a mountain ridge. Print in black ink of a wood engraving. The view along a mountain ridge. Monochrome watercolour of a rugged, layered mountain landscape. Watercolour. Mountain ridge under snow.
As a retired ecologist, how do I persuade myself I MUST have the gear and skills to do this!?
Headed out into the field. Josh printed out 3D maps of the region for reference. ⚒️
White 3D printed map showing a linear mountain range trending north / south and a little bump to its southwest, and then a lumpy mountain range to the south of both.
The fungus often feeds on trees already weak. Your rowan sounds to be in sturdy middle life and able to deal with a little more of life's diversity. I speak as an ecologist, an arborist may take a different view. May the berries bring you fieldfares and redwings this autumn. And keep witches away.
Probably shaggy scalycap, Pholiota squarrosa, but it does have similar relatives.
Reposted by John Altringham
Always painting Inchcailloch, Balmaha bay
Watercolour of a small wood covered island with yachts in front of it
A stormy autumn day on the Northumberland coast. Dunstanburgh Castle and Embleton Bay. Photo, watercolour and wood engraving print. From the archives - walks and wild weather currently off limits, hopefully not for too long.
Colour photo. Ruined castle on a headland behind waves breaking on a beach. Spray from waves swept back by strong gale. All under a dark, cloudy sky with sunlight almost breaking through. Watercolour based on previous and similar photos. Print in black ink from a wood engraving of the same scene.
Reposted by John Altringham
Work in progress. The #Nymans cedar.
Reposted by John Altringham
lovely artistic stilin'
buy John's stuff!!
give him a follow!!!
share his work by reposting!!!!
Today I became an elected member of the Society of Wood Engravers, a reminder of the imminent entry deadline for the 2026 annual exhibition. Shown, engravings selected by SWE in 2023-5 and a probable entry for 2026. Good news in hard times.

johnaltringham.co.uk

@lakesstiles.bsky.social - 2 stiles!
Wood engraving print in black ink. A steep woodland path over tree roots leads to a stile in a broken fence. Beyond, a field, a tree and open sky. Wood engraving print in black ink. Four thick curvy pine tree trunks dance on the edge of moorland, lit by a low sun from the right. Wood engraving print in black ink. A narrow, rocky mountain arête, lit by a low sun from the right. Wood engraving print in black ink. A bold male stonechat watches me from an unfurling bracken frond as I cross his path on my way to a stile in a drystone wall.
Thanks! One of so many things I have time for since retiring from academic science...
If circumstances had been different we'd live there now. However, with Ilkley Moor on our doorstep we can hardly complain.
We have spent time in NW Scotland almost every year for over 40 years, so know it well too. A spiritual home if not a physical one.
Thanks for the repost and the enthusiastic support!
Today I became an elected member of the Society of Wood Engravers, a reminder of the imminent entry deadline for the 2026 annual exhibition. Shown, engravings selected by SWE in 2023-5 and a probable entry for 2026. Good news in hard times.

johnaltringham.co.uk

@lakesstiles.bsky.social - 2 stiles!
Wood engraving print in black ink. A steep woodland path over tree roots leads to a stile in a broken fence. Beyond, a field, a tree and open sky. Wood engraving print in black ink. Four thick curvy pine tree trunks dance on the edge of moorland, lit by a low sun from the right. Wood engraving print in black ink. A narrow, rocky mountain arête, lit by a low sun from the right. Wood engraving print in black ink. A bold male stonechat watches me from an unfurling bracken frond as I cross his path on my way to a stile in a drystone wall.
Reposted by John Altringham
Glasgow’s Burnfield bakery window
A window of a bakery with shelves filled with croissants, buns, cakes a tenement building is also in the reflection
Watercolour, 26x10cm. Looking towards Cape Wrath from Faraid Head, Balnakeil Beach, Scotland. A sea fog or "haar" has rolled in over the coast to our west while we bask in warm sunshine.
Coastal watercolour. Gentle, wind-blown, turquoise waves break on a white sand beach. The headland on the right is bathed in sunshine, that on the left enveloped in fog which sits low on the sea right across the back of the sketch.
Watercolour sketch, 15x7.5 cm.
Watercolour of thin washes - coastal hills and mountains backed by a thick cloud bank.
Machair and morning mist, again. Watercolour, 25x15cm.
A deep blue sea turns turquoise as it sweeps up a white sand beach. Low waves break on the sand. Behind the beach soft green machair-covered dunes are backed by mist and blue-distant hills under a grey-blue sky. Calm.
Very sorry to hear this Jane, the lack of sleep really adds to the pain and misery. I hope you feel better soon and get further solace from the landscape.
Tried many times to capture the atmosphere of a Hebridean shore under a grey sky, before the morning mist has cleared. Somehow the beach and the machair still glow and the sea somehow still looks tropical. Yesterday, I think I just about cracked it.
#watercolour #art #Scotland #Hebrides #landscape
Watercolour, 17.5x10.5 cm. Waves break on a deep blue sea, which turns turquoise as it rolls up a white sand beach. Behind the beach soft green machair-covered dunes are backed by mist and blue-distant hills under a grey-blue sky.
Payne's grey and lots of water.