These are details of paintings that will be in my next solo exhibition “Along the Coast” contemporary landscape paintings, inspired by the beaches of Northern NSW.
the exhibition opens on the 12th November at
The Northern Rivers Community Gallery 44 Cherry St, Ballina NSW

I painted these works in response to obvious signs of erosion on some of my favourite beaches along the north coast of New South Wales.

During the last 12 months I’ve seen startling changes on some beaches along the coast after some particularly wild weather in 2009. In some places the high tides had cut into the dunes, washing them away to reveal ancient trees that were once hidden deep behind the fore dunes.

Many trees were precariously balanced on the edge of the dunes with their roots exposed, some had already fallen onto the sand.

In other areas, cliffs of soft rock (coffee rock) had been carved away by the surf, and trees had fallen onto the sand below. Other trees were still clinging to the cliff top.

I find these trees, that are clinging to life on unstable ground, very moving. I decided to paint this series of paintings as a tribute to them.

Many of the trees I have painted have fallen and washed out to sea since I have painted them.