This one has been on the wish list for some time! St Catherine’s Hill near Winchester is a popular place to walk and take in views of the city. But I must admit i’ve found it difficult to get my head around how to capture it in paint. In the end, I found a combination of views that I felt could be knitted together… creating my own imagined view across the landscape. So here we have the winding path up the slope leading to the copse at the top of the hill, with the landmarks of Winchester Cathedral and the Hospital of St Cross in the background. If you’d like to see it in the flesh, the painting will be available to view at Winchester Framing & Home.
St. Catherine’s Hill is just within the West boundary of the South Downs National Park. A small but dramatic chalk hill to the south east of Winchester, it rises steeply from the water meadows of the River Itchen, the summit of the hill at 97 metres (318 ft) provides a fine view over the city. The hill is owned by Winchester College, and largely managed as a nature reserve by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.