Arches National Park, Moab, Utah, USA

© Whit Richardson/Alamy Stock Phot

Art in the high desert. Art in the high desert

The desert doubles as an art studio this week at Arches National Park in the US state of Utah, as painters congregate for the Red Rock Art Festival. This event is a celebration of what the French call painting ‘en plein air’ or painting outside. Sounds like a fabulous idea to us (and what a view!).

The colourful landscape here at Arches National Park is home to the highest density of natural arches in the world - more than 2,000 - as well as more pinnacles and dramatically balanced rocks. Combine that with the fiery sunsets, pinyon trees – a type of pine native to the US - and splashes of sage and yucca, and we’d say these artists are in for a treat. Luckily for them, October is a pleasant time to visit the harsh, desert landscape in the western US.