En Plein Air Port Hills Oil on Linen

Oil on linen study of the Port Hills, looking across Lyttelton Harbour. Painted to capture the moment when pre-setting sun breaks through cloud and bathes the ridges and outcrops in a concentrated, golden light. The composition explores how that sudden illumination defines form and depth, turning rocky contours into beacons across the landscape.

Executed as a study in light, surface and atmosphere, the work is intended to feel both observational and gently symbolic: the golden rays as a metaphor for the universe sending clarity and strength, revealing a path forward. The limited palette and careful brushwork emphasise the contrast between the warm, luminous highlights and the cooler, shadowed planes, inviting the viewer to linger on the interplay of tone and texture.