A watercolor artist creating a landscape painting outdoors, with a watercolor palette and sketchbook showing trees and buildings.

Portraits of Guardo and surrounding areas

Published Oct 15, 2025.

Living and visiting Guardo, a town in the northern part of the Palencia province, near the Picos de Europa. I have always been drawn to the traditional and ancient buildings in this area of the Palencia mountains, as well as the landscape and the friendly people.

Trying to capture these locations, I have spent many hours walking around them and taking sketches on-site.

Unfortunately, when new homes are built in the area, their aesthetics are often neglected. Many of the homes pictured here no longer exist.

Watercolor sketch of an old, weathered house with two windows on the upper floor and a door with mailboxes on the lower floor, showing signs of wear and age.

Old house on the Avenida de Santander. Already disappeared. Watercolour and ink on Hannemühle paper.

Watercolor drawing of an old house with a red tiled roof, blue walls, and closed shutters on the windows. There are bushes along the front of the house and a sidewalk in front. The sky is partly cloudy.

This old house on Valdecastro Street also no longer exists. Watercolour and ink on Hannemühle paper.

A watercolor sketch of an old two-story house with a red tiled roof, chimney, and a mix of white and brick walls, with cars parked nearby.

Ruined house on La Puertecilla street, I think this building is still up. Watercolour and ink on Hannemühle paper.

A watercolor painting of an old, rustic house with a small balcony, surrounded by greenery and a stone wall in the foreground.

Super beautiful and charming houses on this alley in Calle Enríquez. Watercolour and ink on Hannemühle paper.

Watercolor painting of snow-capped mountain, pine trees, and rocky terrain under a cloudy sky.

Espiguete Peak seen from one of the slopes of Peña Mayor. Watercolour and ink on Moleskine paper.

Sketch of an old building with a tiled roof, multiple windows, a green door, and a stone bench outside.

Old building on Calle La Flor in Guardo. Watercolour and ink on Hannemühle paper.

A watercolor painting of a forest scene with trees, bushes, and a small stream, in autumn colors.

Oaks in Autumn in Velilla del Río Carrión. Watercolour and ink on Moleskine paper. Private collection.

A watercolor painting of a hillside town with houses featuring red-tiled roofs, surrounded by trees and greenery.

A view of Guardo in Winter. Watercolour and ink on Moleskine paper

Watercolor painting of a rustic house with a red door and barred windows, set on a hill with other similar houses in the background, under a blue sky.

The old post office building on Calle Mayor in Guardo. Watercolour and ink on Moleskine paper. Private collection.

Watercolor painting of a landscape featuring several trees, including a large leafy tree on the left, a tall, narrow cypress tree in the center, and another large tree on the right, with a cloudy sky in the background and rocks and shrubs in the foreground.

Oaks and junipers in Velilla del Río Carrión. Watercolour and ink on Moleskine paper. Private Collection.

Watercolor sketch of an old, rustic two-story building with brick and plaster walls, green shutters, and laundry hanging outside on a clothesline. The building has a tiled roof and is situated on a sloped street.

Old buildings in Calle La Fuente in Guardo. They are still alive! Watercolour and ink on Moleskine paper.

A watercolor and ink sketch of a two-story house with a white facade, black window frames, and a red-tiled roof. The house is surrounded by leafless trees and a garden with a gate and stone wall. The sky is depicted with blue watercolor, and the scene has an autumn or winter feel.

Old buildings in Winter in Guardo. Watercolour and ink on Hannemühle paper.

Watercolor painting of an old, dilapidated house with a broken roof, boarded-up window, and overgrown yard with leafless trees.

A ruined house in the centre of Guardo. I consider this live sketch one of my favourites. Watercolour and ink on Hannemühle paper.

Watercolor illustration of an old, rustic house with a tiled roof and a chimney, nestled among lush trees and greenery. The house has peeling white paint and small windows, with a stack of rocks and some grass in the foreground.

Another ruined house in the beautiful village of Valcovero. Watercolour and ink on Moleskine paper.

Watercolor painting of an old rustic house with a red tiled roof, wooden windows, and a wooden door, surrounded by a yard with chickens and a tree.

This beautiful house is or was used as a chicken coop in Camporedondo del Alba. Lucky chickens! Watercolour and ink on Moleskine paper.

A watercolor painting of an old stone house with a red tiled roof, a chimney, and a wooden gate, surrounded by trees and a stone fence.

Old house in Camporedondo del Alba. Watercolour and ink on Moleskine paper.

Watercolor painting of a row of old houses with red tile roofs, laundry hanging outside, and mountains in the background.

Charming houses in Muñeca de la Peña. The house depicted on the left side has been converted into a terrible garage. Yes, unbelievable. Watercolour and ink on Moleskine paper.

A watercolor painting of a quiet street in a small town with older buildings, hills, and trees in the background.

Houses in the main street in Velilla del Río Carrión. Large format watercolour and ink.

A watercolor illustration of an old, two-story house with a red-tiled roof, multiple chimneys, and barred windows, situated on a sloped street.

Houses in the Avenida Santander in Guardo. Watercolour and ink on Hannemühle paper.

A watercolor sketch of two houses with power lines, trees, and a brick wall under a cloudy sky.

Old light transformer in Guardo. Watercolour and ink on Hannemühle paper.

Watercolor painting of a street scene with old buildings, a utility pole, overhead wires, and a street sign.

Old house that is still alive in Avenida de Santander in Guardo, but not the one in the foreground on the right side. Watercolour and ink on Hannemühle paper.