I do not paint the beach-combed driftwood that I find. As remarkable as it may appear the colours on the wood are just as they were when found all washed up. Over the past 40 years I have found that this painted wood has become increasingly rare on the plastic beaches.
All of these items are original and unique. The materials that I use, the wood, ropes, nets, rivets, copper and glass have been shipwrecked and washed up. I have rescued or salvaged, hand-picked, shoulder carried, cleaned and recycled. The mirrors, backing boards, pins and screws have been salvaged or recycled whenever possible. Driftwood is inevitably bruised and battered and a straight edge is rare. Every joint in a frame is hand-cut, shaped, encouraged and won.
I have read patiently your messages in bottles, I have submitted reports for all of the dead seabirds that had rings and I have informed the coastguards of all of the unexploded ordnance and I have cleaned up a very small share of our beaches.
I have washed up on the finest edges of Europe, from Bay Stacka to the Raby Oven on the Isle of Man. From Dingle to Donegal and from Inishbofin to Inishkea. From Kephalonia to Crete. From Craggy Island to Hy-brasil. From Ardroil on Lewis to Camas Cuil an t-Saimh on Iona - the bay at the back of the ocean.
All of these items are original and unique. The materials that I use, the wood, ropes, nets, rivets, copper and glass have been shipwrecked and washed up. I have rescued or salvaged, hand-picked, shoulder carried, cleaned and recycled. The mirrors, backing boards, pins and screws have been salvaged or recycled whenever possible. Driftwood is inevitably bruised and battered and a straight edge is rare. Every joint in a frame is hand-cut, shaped, encouraged and won.
I have read patiently your messages in bottles, I have submitted reports for all of the dead seabirds that had rings and I have informed the coastguards of all of the unexploded ordnance and I have cleaned up a very small share of our beaches.
I have washed up on the finest edges of Europe, from Bay Stacka to the Raby Oven on the Isle of Man. From Dingle to Donegal and from Inishbofin to Inishkea. From Kephalonia to Crete. From Craggy Island to Hy-brasil. From Ardroil on Lewis to Camas Cuil an t-Saimh on Iona - the bay at the back of the ocean.
