Description

Summertime captures a peaceful evening outside The Boathouse on the river at Stratford-upon-Avon.

The day’s visitors had already gone, and the river fell quiet and still. The boats rested, moored up for the night. At the centre, two green Canadian canoes and a punt took the spotlight. Meanwhile, larger day-tripper boats created rippling reflections across the water. In the distance, the Shakespeare Theatre and tower stood calmly against the fading sky.

Inspiration for Summertime:

This riverside view has always held a special place in my heart. Because it is my favourite spot to pause with a drink, I often linger to watch the evening light stretch across the water. On this occasion, the summer evening felt magical. The sun held on for as long as it could, and the glow inspired me to paint the calm beauty I experienced.

Though this original artwork has now sold, it remains part of my Paintings collection. Consequently, it reflects my ongoing exploration of movement and atmosphere. You can still buy Summertime as a Giclée Print – Follow this link to purchase!

Techniques and Media Used

For this Summertime, I wanted the colours to feel both realistic and serene. The blues of the water and sky played a vital role in the composition, anchoring the overall mood. To achieve this, I used a variety of oil painting techniques.

First, I layered and glazed to create depth. Then, I scumbled the clouds and reflections to soften the surfaces. In addition, I used drips and sponging on the foreground pavement to emphasise texture.

As a result, the painting balances calm stillness with lively surface detail, creating both atmosphere and visual interest.

• Title: Summertime
• Artist: Julie Swinsco
• Medium: Oil on box canvas
• Size (framed): 75 × 60 cm
• Authenticity: Hand-signed, Certificate of Authenticity included

This original Stratford-upon-Avon riverside painting reflects the peace, colour, and atmosphere of a perfect English summer evening.