This engraving is part of a project I began in July 2016, inspired by drawings made in the nearby village of Walcott, Norfolk.
‘Cold Cold Sea’ examines coastal communities through a visual lens, considering historical, social, environmental, political, and global contexts. It was completed towards the end of 2016.
The reference to ‘15-20 Minutes’ in the title alludes to the topic of hypothermia. Through my research, I discovered that in cold sea water, it takes about 15 to 20 minutes for a person to lose control of their limbs, and for hypothermia to set in. If submerged, drowning follows shortly after. While the timing isn’t exact, I felt it provided a thought-provoking and intriguing title.
Having grown up on the North East coast and now living on the Norfolk coast, the sea, its dangers, and its ever-changing nature remain central to my thoughts and practice. Survivors of the 1953 Norfolk North Sea flood spoke of how cold the water was, and this notion of the sea’s harshness resonates throughout my work. Themes of coastal defence, the intersection of land and sea, lost landscapes, and the encroaching tide were key influences for this Winter engraving, created for the Society of Wood Engravers’ Seasons boxed set, which is now sold out.
