Land meets Water: artistic ramblings along the South-West coastline

Approaching landfall from the sea gives an entirely different perspective and emotional response to that of looking out to sea from the land. Walking on the coast gives one the time to soak up the scenery, frame the vista in your mind and study rather than glimpse. Travelling by car provides the wherewithal to carry easels and art paraphernalia to further destinations not to mention more sustenance! As an artist I am lucky to have experienced all three modes of transport in my ramblings around the south-west coastline. Over a period of many years, I have sketched or painted subjects that have intrigued me, not only from an artistic point of view, but those which include historical interest. Also, I don’t know why it is, but when you set up an easel and paint or sketch ’en plein air’ other dynamics seem to happen: inquisitive people peer over your shoulder, some people talk to you, stories unfold, unexpected things happen, hence my jottings on each of the following pages accompanying the images. My south-west coastal journey starts in South Dorset at Poole Harbour where I moored my old Westerly Ketch sailing boat at Redclyffe, Wareham, on the River Frome. My artistic ramblings run from there around the entire coastline to Bristol, encompassing Dorset, Devon, Cornwall and Somerset.