I love the sea's sounds and the way it reflects the sky. The colours that shimmer across its surface are unbelievable. This, combined with the colour of the water over white sand, surprises me every time.

I paint what I see, not what a camera would see.

I used to own a dingy and can still sail one if pushed, but I like the pleasure boats.

The most amazing thing to me about the sea is the tide. A harbour like St. Ives is totally transformed in a very short space of time by the arrival or departure of the sea.

My optimism for life carried through my work.

I want to paint big, bright, optimistic pictures of the place I love.

I realised that if I did what I wanted to do, it would work.