Do you travel for art and architecture? Here I take you some of the most inspiring buildings which I've had good fortune to visit.

Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal with its enduring love story and elaborate Mughal architecture has appeal on many levels. A trip to India would have been incomplete without seeing its magnificence for myself.

Dedicated by Shah Jahan to his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, it took 22 years to complete. Its outer walls are adorned with motifs of embedded precious stones such marble, jasper jade and it's symmetry is superb.

Taj Mahal, completed in 1643, is among the Seven Wonders of the World and is the resting place of Mumtaz Mahal and her husband.

My trip to India inspired the collection 'Indian Heartway' of which 'Ganga Dreaming' is a limited edition print available in my online gallery shop.

Shop Ganga Dreaming Print

Sydney Opera House

I arrived in Sydney, Australia in my 20’s armed with a work-travel visa. Straight off the plane, despite jet lag, I made my way on foot to the harbour to see the fabulous Sydney Opera House. It was magnificent to behold from every vantage point.

I never tired of seeing it throughout my stay. It resembled a ‘living creature’ with its modern out-croppings of gleaming white shell shaped roofs making a striking statement against the deep blue sky.

Designed by Danish architect Jorn Utzon, the completed building first opened its doors in 1973. I eventually got a part-time job working in its courtyard restaurant, where I comleted some training as a wine waiter and I even sang a song in its main concert hal

Barcelona, a city with the lasting imprint of an artist who used the entire city as his canvas, I had to see it for myself. Antoni Gaudi (1852 – 1926) an artist with vision, whoose ‘modern’ style is engraved and sculpted on buildings and in parks throughout the city. The church of Sagrada Familia is the main attraction. I was fascinated to learn that the people of Barcelona were still endeavouring to complete the construction according to plans set out by Gaudi so many years ago.

The Blue Mosque

I visited Istanbul in the winter just after the turn of the millennium. The Blue Mosque (1609 – 1616) is listed as one of the top tourist sites there and gets its name due to its numerous blue tiles adorning its interior.

There were not many tourists in the winter. It was quiet when I visited the famous mosque. I left my shoes at the entrance and covered up with a head scarf to honour the custom.

The interior was marvellous with decorative domes, carvings and tiles. It was so quiet and still there, certainly conducive to prayer and humility. The room devoid of furnishing, simply a bare carpeted floor for worshippers to kneel and give homage to a higher power.

Linderhof

King Ludwig Bavaria (1845 – 1886) had four castles in total. The one in Neuschwanstein is said to have inspired Walt Disney's fairytale castle. In the late 1990's, I visited Linderhof, where King Ludwig spent most of his time.

Designed in the neo-French Rococo style, Linderhop is the smallest of Ludwig's castles, I walked through rooms decorated in gold from ceiling to floor. Even the garden was a marvel, with water flowing towards the castle from every direction to influence the flow of abundance towards its occupant. Such extravagance I had never seen before.

Nearby in the forest, Ludwig had installed an artificial cave with underground lake, on which floated a chariot style golden boat. There was even an electric generator which ensured the cave was magically lit for the King, who liked to float about in his shell boat, listening to arias performed by invited guests.

Art Inspired by Travel

Art keeps the memories alive which is why I've invested my time in painting my travel inspiration. My trip to India in 2010 inspired the collection 'Indian Heartway'., while travels in Portugal inspired the collection 'My Portugal'.

Add some travel inspiration to your home or workspace by exploring my online gallery of paintings and prints. See something you like, get in touch and make it yours.