There is a quiet weight to the structure of the Oulton Broad Swing Bridge, set where open water meets the industrial framework of the crossing. Working on this piece, the challenge was balancing the rigid geometry of the ironwork and wooden pilings with the stillness of the water below.
I started with direct pen-and-ink line work to catch the structural complexity—the angled cross-beams, cable stays, and the stark outline of the control cab against the open sky. The line needed to feel decisive, capturing the aged, functional character of the bridge without overwhelming the softness of the landscape surrounding it.
When laying down the watercolour washes, I kept the palette muted and grounded. Pale blues and grey-brown tones describe the light across the broad, while sparse touches of warm orange highlight the vertical posts and safety markings, reflecting brokenly into the shadowed water. The reflections were kept fluid and loose, allowing the wet-on-wet watercolour to mirror the natural movement and stillness of the tide against the timbers. It is a study in structure, light, and local history—capturing a familiar Suffolk landmark in a contemplative moment.