Tor’s Golden Beacon

Glastonbury Tor Study Series Number 1

Tor’s Golden Beacon is an 11.5 by 16.5-inch study painted using Fuumuui opaque watercolor on paper. The work centers on Glastonbury Tor, a distinctive green hill crowned by a rectangular tower ruin at its peak. From this opening, rays of warm golden-yellow light radiate, filling the upper part of the composition with a glowing presence. The surrounding sky transitions from soft blues near the horizon to deeper yellows and earth tones that suggest either dawn or dusk. Dark green and purple vegetation forms the foreground, contrasting with the illuminated hill and adding textured depth to the scene.

This piece captures the hill as a mystical landmark, one charged with historical and spiritual resonance. The Tor’s conical form and its St. Michael’s Tower ruins have long been linked to ancient legends and pilgrimage. My intention was to emphasize this sacred quality through the interplay of light and form, using the new Fuumuui opaque watercolor set to explore layering and opacity in a controlled sketchbook format. The medium’s versatility allowed me to build solid color fields for the hill and vibrant, radiating beams, while maintaining a harmonious balance between foreground textures and atmospheric background.

Tor’s Golden Beacon was inspired by a photograph shared in the Visions of Somerset Facebook Group. Seeing the Tor illuminated under natural light sparked the idea to translate the scene into a compact, luminous study that evokes both place and myth. The evident contrast between shadowed foliage and glowing sky creates a tension that feels both grounded and transcendent, inviting the viewer to consider the Tor not just as a landscape feature but as a beacon of cultural memory and spiritual light.

This work reflects a continuation of my exploration of landscapes shaped by time and legend, where natural elements hold layered meanings beyond their physical form. The controlled dimensions and medium suited this approach, allowing a focused expression of atmosphere and symbolism without distraction. Tor’s Golden Beacon stands apart in my practice as a piece that bridges the tangible landscape with its intangible histories and energies, articulated through precise color notes and structural clarity.

Gratefully yours

Ruth Elizabeth Nuckols Cox Williamson