This piece was the biggest one I’ve created so far and honestly, I avoided it for months. I knew it would be a challenge, and that made it feel a little intimidating. But I also knew it had the potential to become something really special, and I wanted to take you behind the scenes of how it all came together.
Like all of my Cornwall paintings, this one started with my own drone footage. I captured the aerial view during a family trip to Rock Beach, it was actually my birthday and we had just been to the Mariners for my birthday meal! It's a spot packed with memories and meaning. There's something magical about seeing your favourite beach from above. That fresh perspective is what first inspired this whole collection.
I began, as I always do, with the water. Lately, I’ve developed my own painting techniques for building the layers and creating the darker base areas where my coral details will later sit. Even though there weren’t many waves in the footage, I still added a few. I love the movement and texture they add, so I used texture paste to create a subtle 3D ripple effect on the surface. They bring live to the canvas and they make it more of a moment!
The stone wall in the landscape was the next challenge. I had this vision in my head of building it out of texture paste in block shapes to mimic the real stonework. I had a bit of a panic moment halfway through and thought, “I’ve ruined it.” With texture paste, there’s no undo button if it's dried. But I trusted the process, added lighter layers on top to bring out depth, and slowly, it started to come to life. I gave myself a couple of days to just look at it and sit with it before moving forward, something I often do when I’m working on something new or slightly out of my comfort zone.
Next came the greenery, little details that help the painting feel rooted in a real place. I used mostly paint here, with a touch of texture paste to create dimension.
Then it was time for the boats. This might have been one of my favourite parts. I kept them quite simple, with soft shadows and hints of detail, like their covers. I loved watching the colours come to life!
Finally came the part I always look forward to, adding the coral reef. This is where my imagination takes over. I rarely plan this part in advance. Instead, I play with texture, clay, paint, and colour to build something that feels alive and unexpected. With this piece already packed with detail, I added just a little clay to balance it all.
This painting taught me so much about patience, about pushing through creative fear, and about trusting my process. I’m so proud of how it turned out, and it’s now one of my favourite pieces I’ve ever created.
If you’ve ever stood on Rock Beach or have a favourite coastal spot that makes you feel something deep down, I hope this painting brings a bit of that magic into your space.
Thanks for being here and following along, whether you’re here for the art, the process, or just a shared love of the ocean, it means the world to me!
If you'd like to purchase this painting, click here!
