The village is surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery, which attracts many serious hill-walkers, rock and ice climbers. Travel writer Rick Steves describes the area as exhibiting "the wild, powerful and stark beauty of the Highlands ... dramatic valley, where the cliffsides seem to weep with running streams when it rains". The area has been seen in numerous films, including Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban as the home of Hagrid, and the 2012 James Bond film Skyfall. I was inspired to paint this magnificent scenery from visiting Scotland two years ago. The day we went was sunny and beautiful, and I felt a sense of peace there that I've never felt before. The climbing we did was fantastic--even though I got scared of heights, we got almost to the top! I love painting mountains and cliffs because they make me feel so small compared to them, almost like painting your fear but also painting something you admire so much. Painting something that holds so much power in its space and time.