After Barry passed away, I began to travel. It began with what I call “my walk-about” – an extended solo drive to the Atlantic coast and on to somewhat remote “Smithfield Station” where I could kayak and commune with nature. From there, I became more adventurous and have enjoyed many European destinations. One of my favorite adventures, shared with a new love in my life, involved hiking, biking and cliff-climbing in southwestern Ireland, where the Atlantic rages and one can’t help but feel wild and free!

Having grown up in the Williamsburg/Jamestown, Virginia area, one of the oldest places in America, I have been fascinated by the millennial history of Europe. Spanish Point is the site of this painting. In the late 1580’s, Philip of Spain had sent an Armada to wipe out the English fleet. The project seemed doomed from the start, as continuous fierce weather resulted in the wrecking of several ships off the coast of County Clare and the eventual loss of the entire fleet, hence the name, Spanish Point. It was an angry sea with high winds when we were there, and one could imagine the challenges of navigating a warship through unknown, heaving waters while dodging cannon fire!