We explore the relationship between the NAO and the solar radiation spatio-temporal variability in the European North Atlantic area during winter. Measured monthly sums of sunshine duration and short-wave downward solar flux reanalysis data have been used. Correlation analysis between the NAO index and the measured sunshine duration shows a dipolar pattern, with maximum positive values (+0.75) over the Iberian Peninsula, and maximum negative values (-0.71) over Norway. Reanalysis results confirm these findings. Composite analysis shows, for northern Europe, negative anomalies (-10% to -20%) associated with NAO > 1 and positive anomalies (10% to 20%) associated with NAO < -1; while for southern Europe anomalies are, respectively, 10% to 20% and -10% to -20%. A stronger influence is found during the NAO negative phase; particularly, the northern British Isles, Norway and the Iberian Peninsula present a significant non-linear response, with higher anomalies (10% to 20%) during this negative phase.