Beach Art

I have written before about my love for beaches and how this time away from everyday life has reminded me how to play. Because I am not in a rush and have time to potter about, I have found so many unexpected things of beauty on the seashore. Whether it is in the intense colours of crystalline rock structures, or the patterns left by the receding tide, there is art all around me.

I think beachcombing is in my blood because I always have an eye open for shells, colourful pebbles, unusual seaweed and driftwood. As children, my brother Jon and I would spend happy hours making 'the perfect rockpool'. The beach would be searched for pebbles, shells, seaweed, and if we were lucky, a crab or two and then we would create our own beautiful miniature worlds.

I was lacking the pool but making this little scene took me straight back to my childhood. I remembered the concentration and intensity of feeling and the delight at making something so lovely.

The writer Elizabeth Goudge writes about a collection of  'Little Things' in a couple of her books. These were tiny china ornaments, yet I felt I was following her lead when I made this little gathering of perfect tiny shells, carefully placed in a clam-shell. I do so hope a child found them before the sea washed them away.

I am always surprised by the variety of colours found in the pebbles on beaches. The best place for beautifully coloured perfectly oval pebbles has to be Budleigh Salterton, yet with a bit of time spent searching, there is usually a rainbow's worth to be found.

I was especially pleased when my friend Carol told me that she had come upon one of my colourful collections and immediately thought: "That must be Jane's doing".

 I also love beaches that are full of dark stones foliated with white quartz stripes. It is endlessly fascinating to look for letters within the pebble's patterns.

I also enjoy making shapes by connecting the lines within the stones. My friend Pippa taught me how to make hearts.

I become totally absorbed when I make my little beach creations, it feels like a form of meditation. Time flies and I feel refreshed and satisfied by what I have made.

And then I came upon the sublime work of Rachel Shiam   http://www.quietearth.org.uk/

She draws these delicate intricate designs on the sand. I watched her work and then, at her suggestion, climbed up the cliff-top path so that I could look down on the beach and see the whole pattern.

Hey ho- there is playing and there is true art and I know what I create!

Joy!

Saturday was a long day. After tidying and packing, I left Pool Cottage and set off down the west coast to the tiny village of Moylegrove, not far south of Cardigan. I needed some supplies, so stopped at a local store and also grabbed food for lunch. Remembering my rule of ‘picnic when you are able’, I turned off the road onto a small track. There was nowhere to park and so I kept driving and ended up at the sea!

I enjoyed my cheese, oatcakes and a perfectly ripe pear and then went for a potter along the shore. The tide was out and I have never before seen such a collection of beautifully coloured seaweeds.

Needless to say, I spent far too long and ended up arriving later than planned at Banc Cottage. It is a dear little place, and I soon unpacked and settled in for the night.

I awoke to a sunny morning and a feeling of such happiness, for today I was going to see Emily and Jordan, who were down for a holiday weekend with Jordan’s parents, celebrating a family birthday

What joy it was to see them! They wanted to show me the beach they love so well, so we all walked down there, except Julian, who nobly agreed to come and pick us up later and drive us all back up the steep hill.

Tresaith beach is most charming.  It has that beautiful curve, there is sand, there are rock-pools, and it has the most amazing waterfall!

It was such a happy time, Emily and I beachcombing, Jordan and his Mum chatting. As Rhian said afterwards, it was such a treat to spend time with our children.

It was a perfect start to my week where I have spent every possible moment by- or in-the sea.