Sea-glass has now become a passion as it is something I can use to create pictures, maps and mosaics, whilst also making it a good reason to go down to our beautiful Jersey beaches in order to collect. The pictures I have created are sometimes based on local scenes or images which come to mind, and within these I have also been able to incorporate my other hobbies of photography and painting. I may photograph a scene and try to recreate it, or I will use watercolour painting to enhance detail and refine the picture.
Although I am not professionally trained, the plus side of this is that the lack of instruction has left my mind free to run riot and visualise many scenes which I have yet to produce. My hardest task to date has been a sea-glass map of Jersey which took 3 months to create and over 12 months to gather sufficient pieces. Within the map there are over 3000 different shades and shapes of glass and pottery, depicting the valleys, churches, villages, reservoirs, castles, slipways, golf courses and many other features of our beautiful Island. I also painted the sea around the coastline to highlight the tidal currents and waves meeting the cliffs.
I am currently collecting to complete another map of a different Island, and the spring tides always bring in more treasures from the deep. I have learnt that cargo ships used to carry pottery as ballast and just before they reached port they would jettison the pottery over the side to make way for the cargo they would be collecting. This is one the reasons why there are so many shards of pottery around the world’s coastlines.
Some pieces are rare to find – shades of red or pink and purple particularly – so the challenge is always there to track that elusive piece. Pottery shards are often the blue and white willow pattern, and others include words explaining the contents of the jar or the maker of the plate.
Another feature of my work is often to include sea shells and I collect these locally as well as when I have a coastal holiday in another beach resort. I tend to prefer small pieces of shell, pottery and glass as that enables me to include minute detail.
I am enjoying making birthday and wedding presents and welcome commissions for future projects, so if you decide you would like something made which will be unique, then please get in touch. No two pieces will ever be the same.
I use the hashtag #homebytheseaarts and you can find and message me on:
Instagram: #homebytheseaarts or mobile: 07797 766141
