Hotel Quinta da Casa Branca in Funchal. Watercolour sketch 10 by 7 inches

With cold weather in England a week in Madeira sounded great and so we went for the second time to stay at the lovely hotel we stayed at last year, Quinta da Casa Branca. It is a really nice place to stay, with beautiful grounds and fine food and wine.

For me being in Madeira  it is a great opportunity to tour about a bit and then paint  watercolour sketches of Funchal , and  the island.

I only  take a  300 gsm sketch book, a small watercolour palette box and half a dozen favourite Escoda brushes. All easy and light to carry.

Some of these sketches are almost new versions of last years watercolours but there are quite a few new vistas and views of some of our favourite spots.

Whilst it wasn’t quite as sunny as last year we did manage to sit by the pool and read and paint, whilst sipping Portuguese wines, and some lovely Madeira wines too.

Largo do Corpo Santo in Old Town Funchal. Watercolour sketch 11 inches by 9.

The old town of Fuchal has a lot of interesting painted doors to see and a lovely  squares and a very yellow Fort  by the sea! We also enjoyed a tour around the Wine Lodge of Blandy’s Madeira Wine Company. A good tour and of course some tasting as well.

I have included a sketch of the Fort from last year’s visit as now the castle is shrouded in scaffolding and screens.

The Yellow tones of Forte de Sao Tiago in Old Funchal. Watercolour 9 inches by 7.

Along the coast from Funchal the towering cliffs sweep down to the Altantic ocean, this scene is very typical of many views as you travel along the roads near the coast on Madeira.

The South West coast of Madeira. Watercolour sketch 21 inches by 9.

Here is another coastal view with some of the red rocks that can be seen around the island on show as well.

Red rocks on the coast of madeira. Watercolour sketch 21 by 9 inches.

We didn’t take a trip up to the central mountains as the clouds seemed to covering them , but in  a brochure I found in the hotel there was a photo that I wished I had taken so here is my version of this cloudy mountain scene, and to whoever originally took it, my thanks.

The Cloudy mountains of Central Madeira. Watercolour 10 by 10 inches.

I make no apologies for more watercolours of the small town of Camara de Lobos, which is quite near to Funchal.

Sir Winston Churchill’s favourite Madeiran painting spot is such a terrific place to sketch  and paint that I have included a few new ones and a a studio watercolour painted after our previous visit.

Fishing Boats at Camara de Lobos. Watercolour sketch 11 inches by 9

Another view of the bats at Camara de Lobos. Watercolour sketch 11 inches by 9.

Studio Watercolour of Camara de Lobos 14 incase by 10 on Arches 300gsm watercolour paper.                       

This watercolour can be found in my shop  at http://www.artfinder.com/brianswatercolours and I hope to add some more based on the sketches in the next few weeks.

Madeira is delightful destination from the UK , with no time shift even. Great Portugeuse and Madeira wines, very tasty  food and really welcoming people wherever you go. Whats not to like!

We will be back!

Happy Travelling

Brian