It's a super painting Sam! Not difficult to be inspired by winter trees in Sussex lanes, eh?! The tree is wonderful and the description of light and shade falling across the different limbs in spot on., and gives it a strong three dimensional signature. You may have a point regarding the spikey foreground, but we both know that Sussex hedgerows are full of all manner of twigs an d growth like this. Perhaps just dialling it down by 50% on the left, and behind the tree would work well, but we're splitting hairs here. As someone who has been painting these landscapes for 30+ years, I'm sure that you're happy with how this has captured a moment in a landscape familiar to you....you should be! Recording these places and moments is proper landscape painting. Lovely work.

Beautiful! Would love to see this scene develop through the seasons.

Very nice atmospheric picture. (I don't think the foreground is too spikey, everything fits).

Great painting! Sky, tree, distant woodland are amazing and the expression of mood overall is great.

A really nice painting Sam. I agree with Kirsten, the sky and distant trees are good. I love the light on the tree. Perhaps the shadows in the grass could be warmer, very much in the foreground. Great effort.

Wonderful painting. Love the tree and the sky in particular.

Lovely painting indeed. You could paint that tree over and over, it has such character.

This is superb! I love the sky, the distant treeline and how you have captured the light on the surfaces of the main tree. If you feel the grasses up front are too "spikey", that should be easy to calm down with a subtle value.

Nice work Sam. The sky and light in the background left are wonderful. For me, the shadows on the right forground have gotten a little too dark.. Your main tree is certainly the beautiful Hero in your painting.

This is awesome !