John Altringham
@johnaltringham.bsky.social
Scientist, conservationist, mountain-lover, artist. Happiest outdoors.
https://johnaltringham.co.uk
https://johnaltringham.co.uk
Wherever we walk, goldcrests.
December 3, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Wherever we walk, goldcrests.
When it quickly becomes clear you should have used a bigger sheet of paper.
Edinburgh from Calton Hill, a quick and dodgy sketch in ink and watercolour.
Edinburgh from Calton Hill, a quick and dodgy sketch in ink and watercolour.
November 29, 2025 at 4:28 PM
When it quickly becomes clear you should have used a bigger sheet of paper.
Edinburgh from Calton Hill, a quick and dodgy sketch in ink and watercolour.
Edinburgh from Calton Hill, a quick and dodgy sketch in ink and watercolour.
Today's rapid and loose watercolour sketch of a landmark Edinburgh building - the entrance to the Neo-gothic National Portrait Gallery.
November 27, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Today's rapid and loose watercolour sketch of a landmark Edinburgh building - the entrance to the Neo-gothic National Portrait Gallery.
Quick, loose watercolour of Barclay Church on the edge of Bruntsfield Links in Edinburgh. One of many Edinburgh buildings I sketched when I first picked up watercolours. I thought I'd revisit a few with a more relaxed approach...
November 26, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Quick, loose watercolour of Barclay Church on the edge of Bruntsfield Links in Edinburgh. One of many Edinburgh buildings I sketched when I first picked up watercolours. I thought I'd revisit a few with a more relaxed approach...
This morning's watercolour, 25x9cm. Painted through the pain of the first Ashes test match. Cricket, eh.
November 22, 2025 at 9:58 AM
This morning's watercolour, 25x9cm. Painted through the pain of the first Ashes test match. Cricket, eh.
Watercolour on Two Rivers handmade paper, the thick stuff. 79x56 cm.
November 20, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Watercolour on Two Rivers handmade paper, the thick stuff. 79x56 cm.
Kilmaluag, Trotternish, Skye, NW Scotland
Lenticular clouds
Lit by moon and setting sun
Spill off The Quiraing
Lenticular clouds
Lit by moon and setting sun
Spill off The Quiraing
November 14, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Kilmaluag, Trotternish, Skye, NW Scotland
Lenticular clouds
Lit by moon and setting sun
Spill off The Quiraing
Lenticular clouds
Lit by moon and setting sun
Spill off The Quiraing
Great Close Scar, Malham, Yorkshire Dales
November 7, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Great Close Scar, Malham, Yorkshire Dales
Metamorphic rocks of Faraid Head, Sutherland, NW Scotland. Moine Thrust Zone Mylonites Complex.
A visual invitation to dive below the thin veneer of sand and follow the geology into the crust.
Photo, watercolour and a monochrome photo - an engraving?
A visual invitation to dive below the thin veneer of sand and follow the geology into the crust.
Photo, watercolour and a monochrome photo - an engraving?
October 30, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Metamorphic rocks of Faraid Head, Sutherland, NW Scotland. Moine Thrust Zone Mylonites Complex.
A visual invitation to dive below the thin veneer of sand and follow the geology into the crust.
Photo, watercolour and a monochrome photo - an engraving?
A visual invitation to dive below the thin veneer of sand and follow the geology into the crust.
Photo, watercolour and a monochrome photo - an engraving?
Very pleased to report that my wood engraving "Oak" has been selected for the 88th annual exhibition of the Society of Wood Engravers. The exhibition will tour the UK in 2026, starting at the Bankside Gallery, London in February.
October 28, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Very pleased to report that my wood engraving "Oak" has been selected for the 88th annual exhibition of the Society of Wood Engravers. The exhibition will tour the UK in 2026, starting at the Bankside Gallery, London in February.
Work in progress, watercolour autumn, for my sister. 80x60cm.
The paintbrush on the ceramic rest and the leaf to the right of them are real, given away by their shadows. Painted leaves will all have painted shadows to pop them out of the paper and bring them to life, or in this case, senescence.
The paintbrush on the ceramic rest and the leaf to the right of them are real, given away by their shadows. Painted leaves will all have painted shadows to pop them out of the paper and bring them to life, or in this case, senescence.
October 22, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Work in progress, watercolour autumn, for my sister. 80x60cm.
The paintbrush on the ceramic rest and the leaf to the right of them are real, given away by their shadows. Painted leaves will all have painted shadows to pop them out of the paper and bring them to life, or in this case, senescence.
The paintbrush on the ceramic rest and the leaf to the right of them are real, given away by their shadows. Painted leaves will all have painted shadows to pop them out of the paper and bring them to life, or in this case, senescence.
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.
October 5, 2025 at 10:27 AM
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.
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!
johnaltringham.co.uk
@lakesstiles.bsky.social - 2 stiles!
September 30, 2025 at 4:43 PM
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!
johnaltringham.co.uk
@lakesstiles.bsky.social - 2 stiles!
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.
September 24, 2025 at 3:34 PM
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.
Watercolour sketch, 15x7.5 cm.
September 16, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Watercolour sketch, 15x7.5 cm.
Machair and morning mist, again. Watercolour, 25x15cm.
September 16, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Machair and morning mist, again. Watercolour, 25x15cm.
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 #art #Scotland #Hebrides #landscape
September 7, 2025 at 3:15 PM
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 #art #Scotland #Hebrides #landscape
Watercolour 26x15 cm. Mt Whitney, Sierra Nevada, CA.
Persuaded by yesterday's quick sketch to take a little more time and care over a larger version. More often than not I prefer the quick sketch but not this time.
#mountains #art #watercolour #granite
Persuaded by yesterday's quick sketch to take a little more time and care over a larger version. More often than not I prefer the quick sketch but not this time.
#mountains #art #watercolour #granite
September 1, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Watercolour 26x15 cm. Mt Whitney, Sierra Nevada, CA.
Persuaded by yesterday's quick sketch to take a little more time and care over a larger version. More often than not I prefer the quick sketch but not this time.
#mountains #art #watercolour #granite
Persuaded by yesterday's quick sketch to take a little more time and care over a larger version. More often than not I prefer the quick sketch but not this time.
#mountains #art #watercolour #granite
Mid-morning walk on Ilkley Moor, heather in full bloom.
It's warm, windless and humid, perfect for a Flying Ant Day - millions and millions of mating ants throughout a 10km walk.
It's warm, windless and humid, perfect for a Flying Ant Day - millions and millions of mating ants throughout a 10km walk.
August 11, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Mid-morning walk on Ilkley Moor, heather in full bloom.
It's warm, windless and humid, perfect for a Flying Ant Day - millions and millions of mating ants throughout a 10km walk.
It's warm, windless and humid, perfect for a Flying Ant Day - millions and millions of mating ants throughout a 10km walk.
Afternoon walk in the woods. Tree-dwellers: chicken in the woods fungus and artichoke, cherry and knopper gall wasps on oak
August 8, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Afternoon walk in the woods. Tree-dwellers: chicken in the woods fungus and artichoke, cherry and knopper gall wasps on oak
From the garden.
July 24, 2025 at 9:16 AM
From the garden.
Variation on the theme
July 21, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Variation on the theme
Early morning walk on Ilkley Moor before the weather had settled on a plan for the day. July, but we have late summer colours already.
July 21, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Early morning walk on Ilkley Moor before the weather had settled on a plan for the day. July, but we have late summer colours already.