Last month I flew from Lisbon to the Azores, a Portuguese archipelago in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. I was on a hiking holiday with a friend and together, we walked 10 miles a day over ten days and walking trails across three of the islands: Pico,Sao Jorge and Faial.
Our hikes often started in the mountain clouds, descended the steep, forested slopes and ended on the fajas, the fertile green fields that rolled down to the sea, scattered with stone walls to support the vineyards and pastures where cows roam.
We often had Pico mountain in our sights, a beautiful landmark that dominates the landscape across the islands. We walked through misty, moss covered pine forests and sub tropical scenery, fringed with pineapple bushes and banana trees as well as the blue hydrangeas that were yet to flower.
For me, The Azores is like Iceland meets Wales meets Devon: green, bleak in parts and very fertile. I loved seeing the cottages with their kitchen gardens, abundant with summer crops already well under way.
The islands are surrounded by wonderful marine life and people flock to view whales, sharks and more. With a mix of Flemish Portuguese heritage, the food is outstanding, the architecture pretty (I loved the red windmills!) and the people are welcoming. I have created an illustration in honour of this amazing island group and of course, its wonderful cheese features in my art.
My design, available to buy on a tote bag, art print or card, also features the natural volcanic landscape mixed with rolling, green hills and cute, stone, houses, churches and lighthouses.
Dolphins leap up out of the water, a sight I saw on a ferry from one island to another so they are included in my design. I was entertained most nights by the cries of the Cory Shearwater bird, that mimics a hyena ... initially terrifying but hilarious when you realise it's a tiny, unassuming sea bird. So she's obviously the star of the show in my memorable illustration of the amazing Azores!
