For many years I have photographed fishing boats in harbours, drawn to their personalities and surrounding coastal features. I have always been attracted to boats, each vessel has a story to tell. They exude charm, character and mystique. I’m particularly intrigued by stranded boats, waiting for the liberation of the oncoming tide. Consequently, I have painted them in a variety of situations: clustering together in a dock, bobbing freely in harbour waters and the frenetic activity that comes with fishing.
Simplifying composition
Recently, I started to produce a paired down series of boat paintings using a very simple composition dealing with just two elements, a single boat and the surrounding sands. A straightforward configuration but with enough activity to hold the viewer’s interest, forming a striking and effective composition. Since the boat is the main subject, it requires detail and a strong contrast to catch the eye. However, the sand is painted using a different approach, weaving patterns and subtle textures that leads the viewer to the boat, beyond and back
