The Ultimate Snowdonia Painting: "Tryfan in Winter Night" (A Collaboration with Lucy Orangina)
I have spent years pointing high-end cameras at Snowdonia National Park, chasing the perfect light and the sharpest 4K resolution. But sometimes, a lens isn't enough. Sometimes, to truly capture the brutal, freezing, magical atmosphere of a winter night in the mountains, you need paint…
But I don’t paint. (Can’t paint!)
So I’m happy to present "Tryfan in Winter Night", a magnificent new Snowdonia painting by talented artist Lucy Orangina.
Lucy has taken one of my most hard-won photographs and transformed it into something that feels alive. Where my camera captured the light, her brush has captured the cold.
The Artwork: "Tryfan in Winter Night"
The painting depicts the mighty Tryfan rising into a cool night sky, coated in winter snow, with the lights of the A5 and the last hikers' headtorches twinkling in the valley below.
Seeing my view brought to life like this is remarkable. Honestly? It’s 1,000 times better than the raw file. There is a texture and emotion in the paint that creates a connection to the landscape that is hard to describe. It holds the night silence of the Ogwen Valley perfectly.
Own the Painting
This is a rare opportunity to own a unique piece of Snowdonia art.
The Original Painting: There is only ONE original available. It comes framed and is a true collector's piece. Price: £435.00
Fine Art Prints: You can also purchase high-quality prints of the painting. Price: £135.00
The Story Behind the Canvas: Baby Goats
Every great painting has a story, and this one involves a lot of suffering.
This scene wasn't captured after a 2-minute walk from a warm car. It was earned on the frozen slopes of Pen yr Ole Wen during a solo winter wild camping trip. I had failed to get this specific shot three or four times before. The weather in Snowdonia is unforgiving, but on this trip, the forecast whispered "favourable"—which usually just means "not absolutely awful"
The Ascent (And the Delay)
I parked in the Ogwen Valley, loaded with 25kg of camera gear, ready to haul myself up the mountain. But I was immediately stopped in my tracks. Not by a storm, but by a baby wild goat blocking the path.
He was tiny, very cute, and completely unable to climb. His protective mother stood guard, and I stood there—a grown man in full winter expedition gear—held hostage by a kid for 20 minutes. Once he finally scrambled clear, the real work began. And I wasn’t really held up by the baby goat, I just took the opportunity to film it, honestly….
Survival on the Slope
I hiked up into a mix of snow flurries and gusty winds. The views were incredible, but the cold was biting. I found a pitch on the slopes of Pen yr Ole Wen and set up my MSR Elixir 3 tent just as a heavy snow shower whipped up.
I dug a kitchen area out of the snow to cook my steaks (essential morale food). I had an "important note" for this trip: No beers this time.
As night fell, the clouds cleared. The temperature plummeted, but the view opened up. There it was: Tryfan, dusted in snow, dominating the skyline under the stars. I captured the timelapse and the photograph that would eventually become this painting.
The Artist: Why Lucy Gets It
It makes perfect sense that Lucy could paint this scene with such authenticity. She isn't just an artist; she is one of us. She knows exactly what that biting wind feels like because she’s been there.
Lucy documents her own solo expeditions on YouTube, and she is probably tougher than I am. While I was moaning about the goats, she has been hiking some of the world’s best trails. Check out her YouTube channel, and this video in particular, where she’s very close to where this image of mine was taken, with amazing winter cloud inversion conditions.
You can see that shared experience in the painting. She understands the mountain because she has slept on it in the depth of winter.
Two Ways to Own the View
We have teamed up to offer this view in a few different ways.
1. The Original Snowdonia Painting (By Lucy Orangina)
For those who want the texture, the emotion, and the unique interpretation of a talented artist.
View the Painting in Lucy's Store (It’s also available as a print!)
2. The Original Photograph (By Chris Homer) For the photorealistic capture—the exact light as it hit the sensor that freezing night.
View the Wall Art Print in My Store
This collaboration is a huge honour. Seeing a fleeting moment of my own struggle transformed into a permanent piece of art is something special. Go check out Lucy's work—she has done the mountain proud.
Cheers, Chris
Explore More of Snowdonia
If this painting and story have inspired you, there is plenty more of the National Park to explore in my archive. Whether you are a filmmaker looking for the perfect shot or just want to see more of these frozen expeditions, take a look below.
I have spent decades building one of the most comprehensive libraries of Snowdonia footage available. From the Carneddau plateaus to the jagged ridges of Crib Goch, my archive covers the park in all conditions—blizzards, cloud inversions, and golden sunrises.
Browse the Snowdonia Collection to see packs like Clip Pack #203 (Snowdon & Tryfan) and the massive Cloud Inversion series. All footage is 4K, broadcast-ready, and royalty-free.
Want to see the reality behind the lens? Read about the gear failures, the 25kg pack hauls, and the reality of sleeping on a summit in winter.
Read the Snowdonia Wild Camping Blogs for trip reports from Y Garn, The Rhinogs, and more.
"Tryfan in Winter Night" is just one moment frozen in time. My Fine Art Store features a curated selection of my best work from the Welsh mountains, available as museum-quality prints or sleek slimline canvases.
View the Snowdonia Art Collection
Tryfan at Dawn – The classic view of the Adam & Eve stones.
Snowdon Above The Rhinogydd – A long-lens perspective of the summit.
Bring the mountains home.