From Georgia to the Studio: A Contemporary Mount Kazbek Commission
Some mountain adventures stay with you forever.
For Roger and his wife, Mount Kazbek in Georgia was one of those unforgettable places. Rather than displaying another photograph on the wall, they wanted a contemporary painting that captured the feeling of standing beneath one of the Caucasus Mountains' most iconic peaks.
When Roger first got in touch, he already had a strong idea of the style he was drawn to, but he and his wife couldn't decide between two reference photographs and two very different paintings from my portfolio.
First photo of Mount Kazbek
Choosing the Composition
Roger initially sent one photograph of Mount Kazbek before asking if he could send another.
Each image had something special.
The first captured the dramatic, jagged ridgeline of Kazbek, while the second revealed the beautiful rolling hills that lead your eye towards the mountain. Rather than recreating a single photograph, I combined the strongest elements of both to create a composition that felt more balanced and better reflected the landscape.
This is one of the aspects I enjoy most about creating bespoke mountain commissions. My aim isn't to copy a photograph but to create a painting that captures the atmosphere, light and emotion of the experience itself.
Second photo of Mount Kazbek
Designing a contemporary Mount Kazbek painting
Roger mentioned two paintings that particularly resonated with him.
Mount Kenya appealed because of its bold, contemporary colours and minimalist composition, while Calm After the Storm offered a softer palette and a more atmospheric interpretation of the landscape.
After studying the reference photographs, I felt Calm After the Storm provided the stronger starting point.
The sweeping green hills are one of Mount Kazbek's defining features and deserved just as much attention as the mountain itself. They create rhythm throughout the composition and naturally guide your eye towards the summit.
I wanted to preserve that sense of openness while keeping the painting minimal and contemporary, allowing Kazbek to remain the unmistakable focal point.
Rather than painting a stark white mountain against a flat blue sky, I wanted the landscape to feel alive with changing light and movement.
The palette evolved around:
rich olive and emerald greens across the foreground hills
soft blue and violet tones through the distant landscape
crisp snow-covered peaks touched with delicate pink light
glowing pink clouds drifting across the summit and echoing the colours reflected in the mountain
Mount Kazbek colour palette
The subtle pink glazes became one of the defining features of the painting, creating warmth while suggesting the fleeting light that transforms mountain landscapes at sunrise and sunset.
Composition was equally important.
Kazbek sits confidently in the centre of the canvas, while the sweeping curves of the foreground hills subtly mirror the shape of the mountain itself. The movement of the clouds across the summit adds another layer of energy, with the illuminated peak becoming the natural centrepiece of the painting.
Charcoal sketch of Mount Kazbek
Bringing the Painting to Life
The commission was painted in oils on a 30 × 40 inch (76.2 × 101.6 cm) thin-edge canvas, ready for Roger and his wife to frame once it arrived.
Like all of my oil paintings, the piece developed gradually over several weeks.
I began with a composition sketch before establishing the overall structure and colour relationships in the first layer.
As the painting progressed, I completely reworked the foreground hills after deciding the original composition wasn't quite balanced enough. Although it meant painting sections again, it strengthened the flow of the landscape and created a much more harmonious relationship between the foreground and Mount Kazbek.
Once the painting had dried sufficiently, I applied a series of transparent pink glazes across the distant mountains to soften the atmosphere and enhance the light. These final layers are often where an oil painting truly comes alive, adding depth and luminosity that can't be achieved in a single sitting.
Cat Goward painting Mount Kazbek in her London studio
Sharing the Journey
One of my favourite parts of creating a commission is taking collectors behind the scenes.
Throughout the process, Roger received regular updates, from the initial composition sketches and colour palette through to the different painting layers and final finishing touches.
Seeing collectors become more excited as the painting develops is incredibly rewarding.
When Roger and his wife saw the completed painting, their response made all those hours worthwhile:
"Looks amazing, can't wait to hang it on the wall 😊"
Knowing that someone trusts me to interpret one of their most treasured adventures is one of the greatest privileges of my work.
Finished painting of Mount Kazbek
Transform Your Mountain Adventure into Contemporary Art
Whether you've explored Mount Kazbek, completed the Annapurna Circuit, trekked through the Alps, or stood on a summit that's changed the way you see the world, I create bespoke contemporary oil paintings that keep those memories alive long after you've returned home.
Every commission begins with your adventure. Using your photographs, stories and favourite moments, I create a contemporary mountain painting that captures not just what the landscape looked like, but how it felt to be there.
If you'd like to transform your own mountain memory into a bespoke painting, I'd love to hear your story.
