This piece is about memory and landscape. When you remove the actual location in a painting and let the image be defined by memory, something interesting always happens. I wanted this piece to reflect a land that was mysterious and evocative rather than strictly representational.

The dramatic sweep of golden light cutting through the darkness captures that fleeting moment when sunlight breaks through storm clouds in the Highlands—a moment of revelation in an otherwise brooding landscape. The deep indigo mountains frame this burst of light, creating a powerful contrast that draws you into the scene.

Scotland is a haunting place full of history and drama, and that's what makes it so appealing to me. The textural elements and gestural marks in this painting reflect my more abstract approach, where I've applied paint in unconventional ways to create movement and emotion rather than literal details.

I hope this painting conveys the essence of the Highlands—not just how they appear, but how they feel when you stand between those ancient mountains as light transforms the valley before you.