We watched the sunset, over the castle on the hill.

A few weeks ago Rob, an old friend from university asked whether I could create a print of Framlingham Castle in Suffolk. Framlingham is his home town and he sent through some pics that he’d taken. I also did some google maps research to find the angle I wanted and settled on a view where I could have fun with the reflection on the water.

Ed Sheeran fans may know that Framlingham Castle was the inspiration for his song Castle On The Hill. It features at the very end of the video too. The song tells the story of returning to his hometown and the gratitude for the people and places that influenced his formative years. After watching the video and listening to the lyrics there was only once choice of setting for this print. Sunset. And you know how much I love a sunset. The whole piece was centred around my quest for that vivid bright orangey pinky glow reflecting off the castle. I worked out where the sun would set and tried to give a sense of the darker sky coming in from the east. I loved working on this one. It took about three days to get right. Reflections are easy; copy, paste, opacity at 40%, but the effect looks good. The print really came together though when I used the same pink in the sky and the castle. It all finally gelled. I hope those with a deep affection for the area feel I have captured the spirit of the place, I've certainly tried to. Thanks for the suggestion Rob.

Prints available to buy on Etsy. 

In the spirit of the song lyrics, here's a picture of Rob and I at Wolverhampton University (circa 1998). Golden days of Dudley.

Castle On The Hill - Ed Sheeran

When I was six years old I broke my leg
I was running from my brother and his friends
And tasted the sweet perfume of the mountain grass I rolled down

I was younger then
Take me back to when

I found my heart and broke it here
Made friends and lost them through the years
And I've not seen the roaring fields in so long
I know I've grown
But I can't wait to go home

I'm on my way Driving at 90 down those country lanes
Singing to "Tiny Dancer"
And I miss the way
You make me feel
And it's real
When we watched the sunset over the castle on the hill

Fifteen years old and smoking hand-rolled cigarettes
Running from the law through the backfields and getting drunk with my friends
Had my first kiss on a Friday night
I don't reckon that I did it right

I was younger then,
Take me back to when

We found weekend jobs, when we got paid
We'd buy cheap spirits and drink them straight
Me and my friends have not thrown up in so long
Oh, how we've grown
But I can't wait to go home

I'm on my way
Driving at 90 down those country lanes
Singing to "Tiny Dancer"
And I miss the way
You make me feel
And it's real
When we watched the sunset over the castle on the hill
Over the castle on the hill
Over the castle on the hill

One friend left to sell clothes
One works down by the coast
One had two kids but lives alone
One's brother overdosed
One's already on his second wife
One's just barely getting by
But these people raised me
And I can't wait to go home

And I'm on my way
I still remember these old country lanes
When we did not know the answers
And I miss the way
You make me feel
And it's real
When we watched the sunset over the castle on the hill
Over the castle on the hill
Over the castle on the hill