The Story behind a painting...

Water Sonnet - An ethereal abstract inspired by the sea.

The Story Behind ‘Water Sonnet’

I wanted to share the story of a painting that’s particularly close to my heart — Water Sonnet — which is currently with The Art Buyer at her beautiful gallery space in Hampton Court.

This painting is special because it came together in such a spontaneous way — completely “out of the blue” (quite literally, as blue became the core of the piece!). I’d recently treated myself to some exquisite raw pigments and decided it was finally time to use a linen canvas I’d been saving for something meaningful.

My intention with Water Sonnet was to honour the sea and my own memories of it. I let the materials guide me — mixing raw pigments into fluid acrylic and layering them with opaque glazes to create a soft, veiled surface. As I painted, I thought of being by the sea: the hush of the waves, the calm light, the softness of the sky at sunset. That’s what led me to introduce gentle shades of pink.

I had very little control over how the pigment behaved — and I loved that. It dispersed organically, creating intricate patterns and little pockets of texture, which I later sealed with varnish to preserve their delicate beauty.

After spending a long time just sitting with the piece, I added a few straight lines. This is something I’ve been exploring in my recent work — not only to add contrast, but also to evoke the sense of looking through a window, or perhaps even through time. It’s become a subtle motif in my practice.

When Helen from The Art Buyer selected Water Sonnet for her collection, I was absolutely thrilled. I’ve often imagined who might one day live with this painting. I picture someone who loves organic textures, the imperfections of nature, and who feels connected to the sea. Someone whose home reflects a love of character, stillness, and a touch of the unexpected.

At 110 x 110 cm (framed), it’s one of only a couple I have available at this larger size. If it speaks to you, please do get in touch with Helen directly via @the.art.buyer.

Thanks for reading, and for following along with the stories behind the work 💙