I started my Shellwork from home. Lockdown made me yearn for the seaside and I longed to walk along beaches seeing what treasures could be found.

My shell obsession began as a small child spending hours beach-combing in the Isles of Scilly, where we went every Summer. We found cowries, wentletraps, tower shells, mussels, periwinkles, topshells, whelks, cockles, mini urchins, scallops, ammonites, sting winkles, spiral shells and of course limpets. They are such beautiful forms created by nature, some look so fragile, yet are very strong.

Shelling is a slow, mediative process which involves sticking each shell in place in either a seemingly random or orderly pattern. You need a time and patience, which Lockdown certainly gave me. Working out which size or sort of shell matches each other requires careful attention to detail to maximise the intricate beauty of nature’s legacy from sea and shore.

I will be exhibiting with Sarah Bond at Archangel Studio, Cumnor in Oxfordshire Artweeks 2022.

The round mirrors dimensions are 50cm diameter
The square picture dimensions are 27 x 27cm

Please do not hesitate to contact me to discuss commissions.