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The Palimpsest, our constant inspiration.

At the very heart of King Alfred's Wessex, lies the historical county of Wiltshire. It has featured in the Arthurian legend, and others, far more primeval, far more obscure, but nevertheless deeply intertwined with our collective psyche. Within this magical county are contained various landscapes, their origins lost in the mists of time. It is a place of gigantic White Horses, sacred standing stones, ancient trackways, medieval villages and sumptuous stately homes. Perhaps the following extract evokes something of the spirit and soul of the region.

Grey Recumbent tombs of the dead in
desert places,
Standing stones on the vacant wine-red
moor,
Hills of sheep, and the homes of silent vanished races.
And winds austere and pure...

The cleansing winds of RLS's poem still flow over the mysterious landscapes of Wiltshire and other neighbouring areas. They blow around the ancient spire of Salisbury Cathedral, and rush through the heathlands and trees of The New Forest. On stormy days, they blast across the wilderness of Salisbury Plain, or whistle about be-lichened walls of ruined castles, such as Wardour, or about ancient Hanging Stones. Zephyrs gently stir the grass covered Ancient Hill Forts on warm summer afternoons, whilst airborne skylarks sing. They rustle through the leaves of riverbank trees on halcyon days, accompanied by the gentle splash as a kingfisher plunges into the cool water below. Small wonder then, that based in the splendid rural isolation of the ancient county of Wiltshire, the Mole End Fine Art team derive so much inspiration from the same source that so impressed artists such as Turner and Constable.


The Mole End team consider themselves lucky to live in an ancient land. Over vast areas of the earth's surface, you feel that man is a comparitive newcomer. For example, if you are fortunate enough to be familiar with the United States, you will know that travelling across the praries of America's Middle West, no structure can be very much more than 150 years old, perhaps 160 or so. Here in Wiltshire and it's environs, it's strikingly different. The landscape is a palimpsest - a parchment used again and again by the long procession of races that moved across this ancient area for thousands of years of our history. They have all left traces of their presence, sometimes clearly superimposed, sometimes with the early remains almost obliterated by later occupations of the same site. Indeed, in recent years, archaeologists have made spectacular advances in the readings of the palimpsest.

Wiltshire has a greater wealth of pre-historic sites than any other county. The geology of the county provided ancient traffic routes (via the dry chalk hills) converging on The Plain. There is a plethora of barrows, dolmens and ancient burial grounds, representing a wide historical range. Indeed, The Winterslows, for example, owe their name to the Old English "wunters hloew" meaning burial ground. Remarkable earthworks such as Yarnbury Castle are to be found here. The massive man-made mound of Silbury Hill is the largest in the continent. Eclipsing all these however, are the Stone Circles. Avebury surpasses the more celebrated Stonehenge in both antiquity and importance. It is also far larger. Nevertheless, the latter attracts visitors from all over the globe, drawn as if by some unseen force, attracted by it's magical romance and the lure of it's mysterious origins. It's stunning setting also makes it cry out to be painted!

With it's ever changing seasons and skies, this beautiful region,together with nearby gems such as Bath, is inspiring a new generation of artists. They have produced a whole series of delightful original landscapes for Mole End. Generally we have a number of examples of this excellent artwork available, but hurry, they are quickly snapped up! Hardly surprising. If you have been fortunate enough to view our artists' work in a conventional gallery, then you will have to agree that our prices represent superb value for money.

Our e-Gallery provides talented artists with the opportunity to reach a far wider, yet still appreciative public, giving those discerning connoisseurs amongst them a chance to investin a unique work of art. Therefore, the cognoscenti will very soon grasp the opportunity to invest in an original oil painting.

N.B. If our artists' work exhibited here is sold elsewhere in the traditional way, accordingly at a greater price, then we will gladly support the transaction. We will merely delete it from our listings at the earliest opportunity. There may well be a short time lag, resulting in a painting being exhibited for a while after it's sale. To avoid disappointment, ensure that you order your chosen painting now. An original oil painting is one of the most exclusive possessions anyone can have, giving pride and pleasure for many years to come, as well as being a treasured heirloom, gift or investment.