Bridge Over the Adur

A view of the river to the south

Bridge Over the Adur is actually an amalgam of two scenes: the sky over the south downs and a southerly view of the Bramber River. I just hope I have been successful in synthesising them because light from the sky obviously affects appearances on the ground. It is, in fact, the second of three paintings I’ve done depicting the Bramber area, and I call them ‘The Bramber Collection’. I’ve always felt the village name to be very attractive. The location dates back to the Norman invasion. It also forms part of the Adur Valley – an area of outstanding natural beauty - probably carved out by the river which meanders north from the sea to reach up as far as Shermanbury in Mid Sussex. It’s also an area mentioned in my novel, The Truth About Melanie. I loved the location as a child - an affection I believe I share with the singer Leo Sayer, and probably many others.

I so well remember visiting Bramber with my mother as a young boy and enjoying lunch at a tea garden. The grounds stretched down to the west bank of the river. Sadly, like so much else, all that has now been consigned to the history books.

2022

Gouache