Menton Sketches

Menton on the French Riviera is one of those places where you can easily retire to. Wandering around the old town and seeing the warm rendering of buildings is a great inspiration. Here are a few watercolour sketches.

Plein Air Painting No.8 Late Afternoon Light near Sospel, French Riviera

When you drive inland from the French Cote D’Azur, you find some stunning mountain scenery with wild herbs growing by the roadside. When I found this great view of a provence style building with cyprus trees and distant mountains, I discovered within a few minutes of painting that a colony of ants became very interested in my paintbox, rucsac and myself! This plein air painting was therefore painting very quickly indeed!

Plein Air Painting No.7 Church at Eze, Cote D’Azur

The hilltop vilage of Eze on the French Riviera is usually full of tourists but late afternoon when the cafes and shops start to close around 7pm, the footfall drops off and I managed to find a quiet spot to paint the colourful rendered church. Eze is really geared up for tourists, almost too perfect. Cross over the border into Italy and a similar hilltop village would be deserted with exposed wires and hanging washing.