I’m excited to share my latest watercolour painting of the beloved Sycamore Gap tree. Inspired by its recent loss, the idea for this piece came to me in the weeks after the tree’s destruction, though it took a bit longer than I expected to fully bring it to life!
The concept I envisioned was to create an ethereal, almost ghostly outline of where the tree once stood—something that would capture the spirit of the tree rather than recreate it. I wanted it to feel like a memory, or an echo of the past, honouring the tree’s presence in a more abstract way.
What became apparent to me in the aftermath of the felling was the deep connection so many people had with Sycamore Gap. It wasn’t just a tree—it was a place of personal significance. I saw how people came to pay their respects, each holding their own special memories. Whether it was the spot where ashes had been scattered or where a marriage proposal was made.
For me, Sycamore Gap has been a favourite destination since the 1990s. After watching Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, I wanted to visit the spot where Morgan Freeman and Kevin Costner watched the young boy climb the tree to escape. I kept coming back over the years because I was drawn to the peacefulness of the remote location. As time passed, it became a lot busier, but that only illustrated the increasing sense of connection that people had to the place.
The creative journey for this painting started with small thumbnail sketches, where I played with different colour variations to capture the feeling I wanted. These quick studies helped me fine-tune the mood before diving into larger compositions. As I progressed, each iteration brought me closer to the final image.
I experimented with the ghostly image using a technique that resembled pointillism and the painting began to take shape. When I finally felt the piece was ready to come to life, I dove into the final, larger work that will hopefully preserve the memory of the tree that once stood on Hadrian's Wall.
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