"Defender of the North Sea: Dunnottar Castle, Scotland"

by Michael Boss
Alkyd on Panel
20" X 30"
From the Collection of Carol Hobbs, WaKeeney, Kansas

Ruins have always interested me not only for stateliness but by their stories and history of ages past. Dunnotar's physical site and later-constructed castle is replete with centuries full of sieges and historical figures such as William Wallace, Mary Queen of Scots and James the VI.

With a suggestion from a Clan Keith friend, I decided to paint the castle. After pouring over many pictures, I didn't care to paint a nice "touristy" painting but instead have the castle in the wintry cold North Sea elements. I emailed a good friend George Philip of Edinburgh, Scotland to help with just the "right" gulls! It all worked to make a nice painting of a distinguished Scottish symbol.