I’m so excited to share the story behind my latest piece in the Cornwall From Above collection: Hawker's Cove. This serene, tucked-away beach near Padstow became the perfect inspiration for this painting, blending peaceful coastal landscapes with intricate underwater details.
Hawker's Cove holds a special place in this journey as it was the first beach where I tried flying my drone. I was a little nervous about dying it but the tranquil setting gave me the confidence to give it a go, and the footage I captured instantly spoke to me. The sweeping gradients of the water, the gentle waves, and the vibrant tones of the landscape all came together to spark the vision for this painting.
Painting the Scene
I started by focusing on the foundation—the painting itself. Using a fluffy brush, I worked on blending the colours to reflect the gradients from the footage. I wanted the layers to flow seamlessly, just like the water in the cove. It took multiple layers to achieve the desired look, but the effort was worth it. The careful blending added a seamless, natural flow to the piece, enhancing its overall depth and texture. To make the waves stand out, I used a piping bag to add texture, building up the layers for a more dynamic effect.
Bringing Depth to Life
Once the background was complete, it was time to bring the underwater elements to life. I started with texture paste in deep greens to add to the darker sections of the water, building depth and dimension into the coral reef area. I used a piping bag and a range of palette knives to create the textures and laying out the overall shape of the coral reef area. From there, I added layers of clay coral in darker tones to stand out but also complement the reef. The clay adds a tactile element to the piece, making it feel alive and almost touchable.
A Personal Challenge
In the footage, there was a lovely little boat that caught my eye. I knew I wanted to include it in the painting, but this presented a new challenge, I’d never painted a boat at this scale before! After a few practice runs, I carefully added the details using the smallest paintbrush I had. It was such a fun process, I’m so glad I included it. The boat adds a special touch of life to the scene, tying everything together.
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This collection is all about Cornwall, blending its breathtaking landscapes with the vibrant marine life that lies just below the surface. For me, it’s about more than just creating art—it’s about capturing the feeling of a place that is a favourite of mine, even when I live far away. My goal is to bring a piece of Cornwall into your home, sparking memories of coastal holidays or dreams of future visits.
Hawker's Cove is now available on my website. If you have any questions or just want to share your thoughts, I’d love to hear from you. Thank you for following along on this creative journey—I hope this piece resonates with you as much as it does with me.
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