On the Edge of Exmoor
Oil paint and household paint on board. Exmoor is more than just a sweep of upland terrain: it’s a distinctive cultural and ecological region shaped by centuries of human use and the quiet persistence of its wildlife. The moorland rises and falls in long, rounded contours, opening into wide, wind‑brushed plateaus before dropping into deep, wooded combes carved by fast‑moving streams. Heather, gorse, and rough grasses dominate the higher ground, creating a patchwork of muted purples and browns that shifts with the seasons. Sheep farming remains central to the character of Exmoor. Flocks graze freely across the commons, keeping the vegetation cropped and maintaining the open feel of the moor. Their presence is part of a long agricultural tradition that has shaped the landscape as much as the weather and geology. Alongside them, Exmoor’s wild red deer—one of the largest and oldest herds in England—move quietly through the valleys and across the hills. They are often glimpsed at ...
