Holy Island Sunrise Oil

Holy Island Sunrise. Oil on box canvas 30"w x 20" h x 1.5" with painted sides, unframed.
Holy Island of Lindisfarne off the Northumberland coast is linked to the mainland by a causeway which twice a day is covered by the tide.
One of the holiest sites of Anglo-Saxon England, Lindisfarne was founded by St. Aidan, an Irish monk from Iona in Scotland. King Oswald invited St Aidan to convert Northumbria to Christianity. He founded Lindisfarne Monastery on Holy Island in 635. The Lindisfarne Gospels, a 7th century illuminated Latin manuscript was written here. It was invaded by Vikings in the 8th century, but is now visited by many tourists and pilgrims. The fortress on the rocky outcrop provides an incredible view and, if lucky enough to visit early morning, the sunrise casts a subtle golden glow, illuminating this remarkable historic site. Fortunately, after several visits, I arrived on one occasion shortly before sunrise and decided that I had to commit this view from memory and sketch to canvas. I hope you like the result.