The ocean is one of the last truly wild places on the planet, many of its secrets yet to be discovered and one of the greatest natural resources we have - for both wildlife and people. But the diversity and volume of life it supports is often at the fringes of our understanding, an unknown which few are able to experience first-hand…
Earlier this year I was privileged to take part in an artist residency at the Argyll Hope Spot alongside a number of other artists seeking to experience and respond to a unique and globally significant marine area. The Hope Spot designation is an initiative led by the charity Mission Blue which promotes action to explore and protect the ocean, inspiring public awareness and support for a worldwide network of marine protected areas. Argyll Hope Spot is the only Hope Spot within the UK and joins other designated sites such as the iconic Great Barrier Reef.
Through the Shallows
Slipping beneath the surface was to enter a world of abundance and step from the misty greys, greens and browns of a quiet shoreline into one of riotous colour stretching out across the seabed. It was both an uplifting and humbling experience, where the web of interconnection between species is highly apparent and a pertinent reminder that we are, all of us, part of that web.
Working directly from life is at the core of what I love doing and this project was no exception. A snorkel, waterproof paper, oil pastel and graphite were the basic kit carried into the water to swim out to a given location then drift on the current or be suspended motionless in an area of calm.
work in progress
Tidal Narrows
Serpulidae
To discover so much beauty and diversity was to experience the world with the astonishment of a small child again and revel in the delight of it all. From the delicate fans of pipe worms and translucent sea squirts to myriad small fish darting among the weeds, sponges in a kaleidoscope of colours and starfish nestling half-hidden among clefts in the rock.
Tiny Reef
And as I became more and more immersed in the Hope Spot I reflected upon this diversity and its place within the wider eco-system. This year, as for many years, I’ve spent time drawing and observing the wonderful coastline of Scotland and in particular the Isle of May where seabirds seem to fill the air and cliffs during the spring and early summer. Clear turquoise waters below the cliffs hint at hidden delights and an abundance of sealife that makes the island a magnet for the birds to raise their chicks and during the winter months for grey seals to birth their pups.
Below South Horn
As the devastation of Avian Flu this year all too poignantly illustrated, nature is a finely balanced web and one in which we still don’t understand the purpose of every strand. Like many others of you I’m sure, I find solace and inspiration in nature. It is a constant source of joy and the resilience it demonstrates is remarkable. By treading lightly and being curious, engaging with nature with astonishment, childlike wonder and love, I believe we have the power to rise to the many challenges facing the natural world.
South Horn
Over the coming months and years I plan to make some of my works available directly from my website on a regular basis in support of conservation and humanitarian charities helping the most vulnerable with the effects of a changing climate. If you would like to receive notification about this please contact me using the sign-up form on my home page.
All artworks pictured are part of The Natural Eye 2022 exhibition by the SWLA at Mall Galleries, London.