oil on canvas,
80cm x 60cm,
Iain White, 2015
£385
This figurative painting of the landscape of the Foinne Bheinn (Foinaven) summit ridge viewed from Ganu More looking south and with the Plat Reidh in the middle distance and Arcuil (Arkle) off to the west emphasises the contrasts that characterise this mountain. The continuous steep scree slopes of quartzite clasts falling away to the west are in stark contrast with the even steeper crags of the back walls of the glacially eroded corries and spurs of the eastern elevation of the mountain. Although almost an identical composition as No. 63, the work is entirely different in treatment but painterly nonetheless.
The scree may be colonised by a range of pioneer species. It also provides shelter for many species sensitive to frost, species requiring a humid microclimate and species sensitive to grazing. Although the habitat on the siliceous quartzite is very acid and species poor there is a flora of Atlantic bryophytes associated with these block screes at high altitudes while there is an important crustose lichen assemblage on the rock fragments themselves, many of which have a restricted world distribution.
Ref: 64
