Prince Charles’ paintings of his favourite places on show in exhibition
Two paintings by Prince Charles of his favourite places are on view to the public for the first time.
The watercolours are hanging at the 83rd exhibition of The Society of Caithness Artists in Thurso.
Among the 352 exhibits of local talent and those further afield with Caithness connections are paintings by the Duke of Rothesay, as Prince Charles is known while in Scotland.
Both, carrying the Prince’s “C” signature, show landscapes important to Prince Charles, who is on his annual ten-day holiday at the Castle of Mey in Caithness, once the home to his grandmother, the late Queen Mother.
Exhibit 315 “Abandoned Croft on the island of Stroma (11)” is a scene the prince keeps returning to. Last year he showed mark one at the exhibition. The haunting view shows the island abandoned by its people in 1962, looking towards the Orkney Isles.
For Prince Charles, Stroma is a familiar landscape, a fabulous view from the castle, now run by The Castle of Mey Trust and open to the public all summer long except when he is in residence.
Exhibit 316 “Loch Stack, Sutherland” is also special to the heir to the throne.
The loch at the head of the River Laxford has long been one of the best sea trout lochs in Scotland and Prince Charles, an avid angler, is a frequent visitor. The watercolour shows the loch and its old boathouse in the distance.
Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana spent holidays at nearby Lochmore Lodge, which is owned by the Duke of Westminster.
Other notable guests at the mansion have included the Queen, Prince Philip, Princess Anne, former Prime Ministers Winston Churchill and Neville Chamberlain and french fashion designer Coco Chanel.
Both the Prince’s watercolours carry the NFS – not for sale – tag. The most expensive painting is “Wick”, showing a fishing boat with attendant seagull at £16,000 by Ian Charles Scott, from Wick in Caithness but now living and working in New York. All money raised goes to The Prince of Wales Charitable Foundation.