Seaham: A Recollection

This work is inspired by Seaham’s coastline, filtered through memory and the shifting qualities of dream. My process began with looking through old photographs of Seaham and then returning to the coast with my analogue camera, where I was drawn to the atmospheric quality of black and white images. At times, the photographs captured a blurred, dreamlike presence that echoed my own recollections of walking the coastal path. In winter especially, the sky takes on a heavy, gun-metal grey, pressing low against the cliffs. The horizon dissolves until sea and sky merge, becoming inseparable. To translate this sensation, I worked with black pastel wax, gradually building up layered textures to evoke depth and atmosphere. Finally, a small amount of black ink was added, creating a surface that holds both weight and ambiguity. This piece is less a direct depiction of place than an exploration of memory, perception, and the dream state.