Hi All

Just a few miles off the south coast of England and a 40 minute car ferry ride away from Portsmouth lies The Isle of Wight.

We have just returned from a few days there and thoroughly enjoyed our visit to this very picturesque island. It was made even better by some pretty good summer weather, which has been in short supply this summer.

The highlights were our visit to Osborne House, a former holiday home of Quuen Victoria and our trips round the coast and also to Mottistone Manor and it’s beautiful gardens.

Time too for a few watercolours for this Post which I hope you will enjoy.

We had never spent any time on the Isle of Wight so this was a very nice opportunity to see at least some of the island.

We stayed at Ventnor on the south coast and really enjoyed a restaurant there called “Le Tour du Monde”. So good we went there twice! I would recommend it if you are visiting Ventnor.

The journey West from Ventnor goes past some lovely island scenery and great views of the coast. The bay at Freshwater is lovely (painting underway) and the town of Yarmouth was very nice too with a good lunch place by the pier called The Gossip Cafe.

From there is was only a few miles to Mottistone Manor and it’s Gardens. This National Trust place was really lovely and this painting tries to capture is beautiful summer garden and the 16th Century House.

The Garden and house at Mottistone Manor Watercolour 14 inches by 10 on Arched NOT watercolour paper.

Another trip was to Osborne House, a favourite holiday home for Queen Victoria and Price Albert in the 1840’s and 50’s. There they enjoyed being by the Sea in this Italian revival designed mansion with only 100 staff!

The gardens a very beautiful and the walled garden is a must see there with it’s soft fruit and flowers.

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert entertained and enjoyed time away from London until Price Albert’s death in 1861. Many rooms can be visited and the park around the house contains a “Swiss Cottage” which was a playing and learning place for their children. There is a bus can take you down to the beach there where family used to bathe in the sea, and where you can see Queen Victoria’s batheing machine where they could change and be rolled down into the sea!

This view of Osborne House is from the path to the Swiss Cottage.

Osborne House Watercolour 9 inches by 7

We also visited Cowes East and West, connected by a Chain car ferry and also went to look at Carisbrooke Castle. A Castle has stood there for over 1000 years but it is most famous as the place where Charles 1st was held before the second Civil war of 1648 and his subsequent loss and then his execution in 1649.

My watercolour shows the very imposing entrance to the Castle.

Carisbrooke Castle Watercolour 9 by 7 inches.

Our last trip took us to Bembridge,  a boat haven on the East coast and to Seaview where their Regatta was underway.

Here is small watercolour of some boats at Bembridge.

Boats at Bembridge Watercolour 9 inches by 7.

So a very enjoyable few days on the Isle of Wight, if you have been I hope you will enjoy these watercolours and if you plan to go maybe they can give you some ideas.

Happy travelling

 Brian