Sketches from Bystock Pools, nr Exmouth

Bystock Pools

Bystock Pools is a Devon Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve. It has a range of habitats, with heathland, patches of woodland, a meadow and a lily pad filled lake. It is also part of and bordered by the Pebblebed Heaths. Creating a stunning place to visit.
There is a wealth of wildlife, we particularly enjoy the dragon, damselflies and other insects around the lake and varies heathland pools. A summer visitor is also the elusive Nightjar, which nests on the ground. It’s easier to hear than to see, as it makes a distinctive ‘churring’ sound. When you are there at dusk also look out for bats and Glow Worms.
The lake has several places to sit and just watch the Damselflies skim about. When it is filled with lily pads it is very reminiscent Monet’s Water Lily Series. Now there is something to aspire to!

Materials Used

All of these sketches were made in an A5 Daler Rowney, Red & Yellow Cartridge Pad. With a 6B pencil and my Winsor & Newton, watercolour field paint box, used with two round brushes, a sable No.1 & a No.6.

Winter at Bystock

Watercolour ~ A5
Today we went over for a chilly walk around Bystock Pools near Budleigh Salterton. It’s always pleasant there, not many people, just a couple of dog walkers. I finished this sketch back home as the ‘little fella’ was complaining about wanting to get back to the car and being cold!

Winter at Bystock

Pencil ~ A5
Parked up at Bystock Pools, with my son gently snoring on the backseat. Letting him sleep on, I’m sketching the tranquillity and reflections at Bystock Pools.

Walking at Bystock

Pencil with watercolour ~ A5
This sketch shows Mrs W walking along the edge of a large, deep puddle. On the wooded footpath running up to ‘Wright’s Lane’.
A dry, chilly day. We have had a lot of rain and the ground is still very soggy. We had a lovely walk around the reserve, splashing through the puddles and trying not to slip on the duckboards.
It feels very still here, with no other people about today.

Finally