Painted on board reclaimed from a boat build taking place near our barge, this painting was inspired by a song about starting life anew. The song was written and performed by Ard Matthews, who is a South African singer-songwriter whom we met in Brazil, after my 4th Atlantic crossing.

The song is about leaving shallow waters - leaving behind dreams that didn’t come true - and striking out for the horizon, for something completely new.

When you leave shallow waters, the deep water can be terrifying to begin with. After a while, you become braver - and when you look back, you wonder why you were so worried in the first place.

30cm long x 15 cm high, oil painting on marine fibreboard. Imbued with hope for a brighter future.

This painting is your invitation to do precisely that. The water is warmer than you expect.

12.5cm x 12.5cm, oil on cradled board, unframed

This board sailed on Cesarina from Ramsgate in 2021, down the coast of France, Spain and Portugal, to the Canaries and then the Cape Verdes and across the Atlantic. It visited Grenada and almost every island on the way up to Antigua where it crossed the Atlantic again the other way and arrived safe and sound in Southampton. I have used it for this collection because I know that it is itself imbued with the spirit of freedom and infinite possibility.

This painting is inspired by the view from a wonderful and entirely empty beach looking back towards Jolly Harbour in Antigua. We could see it from a distance through the binoculars, but didn’t realise until we got there how easy it was going to be to haul the dinghy out of the water. We came back later with a BBQ and watched other yachts leave for their next adventure.

Sometimes, watching other people strike out into the unknown is enough adventure for one day. Sometimes, it’s your turn to hoist your sails and set your course for the horizon.

12.5cm x 12.5cm, oil on cradled board, unframed

This board sailed on Cesarina from Ramsgate in 2021, down the coast of France, Spain and Portugal, to the Canaries and then the Cape Verdes and across the Atlantic. It visited Grenada and almost every island on the way up to Antigua where it crossed the Atlantic again the other way and arrived safe and sound in Southampton. I have used them for this collection because I know that they are themselves imbued with the spirit of freedom and infinite possibility.

There’s a little tiny person near the horizon on this painting, walking two dogs along an enormous beach.

Do you ever wonder what would happen if you… simply carried on walking and never went back?

15cm x 20cm, oil on cradled board, unframed

This board sailed on Cesarina from Ramsgate in 2021, down the coast of France, Spain and Portugal, to the Canaries and then the Cape Verdes and across the Atlantic. It visited Grenada and almost every island on the way up to Antigua where it crossed the Atlantic again the other way and arrived safe and sound in Southampton. I have used these boards for this collection because I know that they themselves are imbued with the spirit of freedom and infinite possibility…

This is only the beginning.

This painting was inspired by my memories of sailing in the Solent, not long after my 40th birthday. I had always wanted to sail but my limited experience had been chaotic and, occasionally, downright dangerous. I had just assumed that it was a dream best left to moulder on the Bucket List.

But then along came a new partner and suddenly everything looked different - he had been sailing catamarans for decades and had so much to teach me. This painting was inspired by the week I got my RYA Day Skipper certificate - crazy, wonderful, the start of an addiction that would take me 5 times across the Atlantic to date (although I didn’t know that then…)

Sometimes, you have absolutely no idea how far new skills will take you. Follow your heart and your instinct - they are always your true north.

15cm x 20cm, oil on cradled board, unframed

By the way, this board sailed on Cesarina from Ramsgate in 2021, down the coast of France, Spain and Portugal, to the Canaries and then the Cape Verdes and across the Atlantic. It visited Grenada and almost every island on the way up to Antigua where it crossed the Atlantic again the other way and arrived safe and sound in Southampton. I have used it for this collection because I know that it is itself imbued with the spirit of freedom and infinite possibility.

If you’re a wild swimmer, or a sea swimmer, or simply someone who loves the beach, you have probably dreamed of this. Or, if you are lucky, you have already experienced it. There’s nothing like it: the sense of being alone on a beautiful beach, walking slowly into water warm enough to bathe in, preparing to float with your ears underwater, deaf to all modern-day distractions.

Sometimes, the freedom is in our own heads - we just need to find it.

15cm x 20cm, oil on cradled board, unframed

By the way, this board sailed on Cesarina from Ramsgate in 2021, down the coast of France, Spain and Portugal, to the Canaries and then the Cape Verdes and across the Atlantic. It visited Grenada and almost every island on the way up to Antigua where it crossed the Atlantic again the other way and arrived safe and sound in Southampton. I have used it for this collection because I know that it is itself imbued with the spirit of freedom and infinite possibility.